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Official Texts Calendar
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Message from the Special Coordinator, Bodo Hombach If a picture is worth a thousand words, a web site is surely worth a thousand mailshots. Rapid informative and accurate communication is central to the success of any enterprise today. I am delighted that, with the generous help of the United States government, as Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe I am able to open this web site which, I hope, will act as a focal point for all those working on promoting the success of the Pact. The web site comes at a moment when we have successfully completed the first chapter of our work: We have the objectives, structures, procedures and decisions we need. Now we are entering the phase of turning projects and plans into construction sites. With the Stability Pact we are for the first time making an attempt, in a comprehensive approach of preventive diplomacy, to address the political and economic structural deficits in the countries of the region. This approach draws in those countries as equal partners in the stabilization process. At the same time, we have never intended to create yet another institution running projects in the region – our aim is to use the huge resources of the existing institutions in the most effective way. On the substance of the Stability Pact’s work, important progress has been made in a number of key areas. For example, an investment charter, which includes firm commitments by countries in the region to improve their investment environment; an anti-corruption initiative, as part of an overall effort to fight organized crime; a business advisory council composed of senior business executives from Stability Pact countries, including from those in the region, which will be closely involved in the implementation of the investment charter. In a division of labor between the international banks, the World Bank is preparing a comprehensive approach to regional development, the European Investment Bank is leading on prioritizing regional infrastructure projects and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is preparing a program for private sector development of the region. A series of task forces are developing integrated action plans on good governance, education, freedom of the media, gender, ethnic minorities and refugees. The security table is making progress on confidence-building measures such as improved military-to-military contacts, control of arms sales and reduction of small arms, as well as non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Please see our newsletter for more information about specific initiatives. In summary, as Special Coordinator, I am working together with my staff and those taking part in the Stability Pact to create a better future in southeastern Europe – one whose future is founded on peace, democracy, economic prosperity and internal and external security. A southeastern Europe which, thanks to the Stability Pact, has a clear perspective of integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures. |
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