April 10, 2000
Fact Sheet

  Croatia views and supports the Stability Pact as an efficient mechanism for the stabilization of Southeastern Europe and its integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Croatia welcomes the European Union's commitment on the establishment of contractual relations with countries from the region, on an individual basis, according to their achievements.

  Croatia has proved to be a vocal supporter and played an active role in the Stability Pact. The Croatian government has presented 9 projects at the Working Table on Democratization and Human Rights, 35 projects at the Working Table on Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation, and 9 projects at the Working Table on Security Issues.

  Croatia welcomed the results of the Stability Pact Regional Finance Conference in Brussels on March 29-30, 2000 which confirmed the international community's commitment to support the economic reconstruction of Southeastern Europe. At the conference, the international community pledged $2.4 billion in funding for "quick-start" packages of immediate projects aimed at improving energy, transportation, water, and environment infrastructure in the countries of Southeastern Europe. The U.S. share of the package is $77.6 million, or 3.2 percent.

  Croatia was allocated $140 million for five infrastructural projects , plus an additional $55.6 million for the voluntary repatriation of 16,500 Croatian Serbs from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Croatian Government hopes that this example will generate similar refugee return initiatives and programs to enable Croatians to return to their homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  Croatia hails the U.S. Government initiative to facilitate the access of exports from the countries of  Southeastern Europe to U.S. markets through the Southeastern Europe Trade Preferences Act. This initiative will also promote U.S. exports to countries in that part of Europe.