High Level Steering Group
Agrees on Priorities for an Action Plan to rebuild Kosovo and its Neighbors
BRUSSELS, July 13, 1999 -- Four weeks
after the end of fighting in Kosovo, at the inaugural meeting of the High Level Steering
Group, participants1) endorsed priorities for
an action plan to rebuild Kosovo and repair the economies of neighboring countries, and
set the course of action to be followed for reconstruction. The Group also confirmed the
first Kosovo donors meeting to be held on July 28 in Brussels. At the conference, donors
will be given an interim damage assessment report on Kosovo in addition to a progress
report on the establishment of UNMIK - the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.
In addition to discussing its mandate and working methods, the Group focused not only
on Kosovo but also the South-East Europe region as whole. The need to provide balance of
payments support to these countries in 1999 was stressed, in order to help them alleviate
the short-term negative economic consequences of the crisis. The region will continue to
suffer from the effects of disruptions in trade, transit and tourism for the foreseeable
future.
Concerning assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, ministers agreed that
until fundamental democratic reforms are in place, no assistance other than humanitarian
aid, addressing urgent and essential human needs, will be provided. |
|
| 1) Participants
include Finance Ministers of Canada, the EU (represented by Finland), France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and leading representatives from
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the
International Monetary Fund, the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, the United Nations,
and the World Bank. |
Document compiled by Dr S D Stein
