Serbs to Be Docked for Damage to Sarajevo SuburbsSARAJEVO, March 11—Reuters) The Bosnian government will host an international conference in Sarajevo this weekend to raise money for post-war reconstruction, Prime Minister Hasan Muratovic said on Monday.
The conference, focusing on both public works and commercial projects, is being supported by the European Union, the World Bank and the office of the international community's High Representative to Bosnia, Carl Bildt.
Those organizations have principal responsibility for securing pledges from donors for the reconstruction of post- war Bosnia. "This is the first international conference of such proportions to be held in Bosnia-Herzegovina since it was recognized (in 1992)," Muratovic said. He reported that of the 58 countries contacted about the conference more than 40 have responded positively. The two day session will be held on March 16 and 17.
The Prime Minister explained that his government would detail the following issues at the conference:
Muratovic said many potential donors are waiting to see what contribution the United States would make to the Bosnian reonstruction program. "We have been told bluntly by such countries: 'We are waiting to see what is the United States going to do, the leading country when it comes to the peace agreeement, part of it being the economic aid'."
- War damages in Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Longterm and urgent infrastructure and economic needs for Bosnia, with priorities identified by each sector
- Private investment opportunities in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Asked about the destruction of factories and industrial facilities around Sarajevo by Serbs departing suburbs being handed over to Muslim-Croat rule, Muratovic said: "We shall, at this conference, ask all participating countries, to have this in mind when giving donations and to reduce donations for the Serb (Republic) by the amount of theft that has been committed."
"However, they have done so much destruction and theft, that it surpasses the total amount of aid that we shall receive. Factories that have been looted and destroyed in Sarajevo could not be made again for the total amount of aid we are supposed to receive."
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