Serbia meets U.S. aid conditions?

The U.S. Secretary of State will likely confirm that Serbia has fulfilled conditions to receive U.S. aid. As Tanjug news agency has learned in diplomatic circles, with a positive decision on certification, the final USD 5mn out of USD 51.563mn financial assistance for the 2008 fiscal year, will be approved. Serbia meets U.S. aid conditions? American aid to Serbia is to be spent in programs designed to help the government and civil sector, and promote democracy. Part of the money will also go to the support of the state institutions. Therefore, the certification process has, above all, political, and than financial importance. This assistance depends on the U.S. estimate on whether Serbia has in fact fulfilled certain conditions. The deadline for the decision, formally made by the president but in fact by the secretary of state, is May 31, although due to various circumstances, as was the case several times this year, it can be prolonged. Meanwhile, Washington has already begun to prepare a bill on foreign help for the next fiscal year, from which funds Serbia could receive USD 46.274mn. The draft also includes certain conditions Serbia needs to fulfill – some of which have been met a long time ago. According to the text adopted by the Board for Appropriation of the U.S. Senate, those obligations included full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, including access to the information about movements and providers of the financial support to the war crimes suspects Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. The second condition listed is that Serbia "should take steps in accordance with the Dayton Accord to end financial, political, security and other help to the parallel institutions of the Republic of Srpska [RS]”. Finally, Serbia "should implement a policy that supports minority rights and the rule of law". Of all the conditions, the second and third have already been fulfilled, while the first, after the arrest of Radovan Karadzica, is well on the way to be met, Tanjug says. If the draft document is adopted, Serbia would get about USD 5mn less than during the last couple of years. The reason for this, diplomats say, is a general decrease of the U.S. aid funds meant for southeastern Europe.

Serbia meets U.S. aid conditions?

American aid to Serbia is to be spent in programs designed to help the government and civil sector, and promote democracy. Part of the money will also go to the support of the state institutions. Therefore, the certification process has, above all, political, and than financial importance.

This assistance depends on the U.S. estimate on whether Serbia has in fact fulfilled certain conditions. The deadline for the decision, formally made by the president but in fact by the secretary of state, is May 31, although due to various circumstances, as was the case several times this year, it can be prolonged.

Meanwhile, Washington has already begun to prepare a bill on foreign help for the next fiscal year, from which funds Serbia could receive USD 46.274mn.

The draft also includes certain conditions Serbia needs to fulfill – some of which have been met a long time ago.

According to the text adopted by the Board for Appropriation of the U.S. Senate, those obligations included full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, including access to the information about movements and providers of the financial support to the war crimes suspects Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić.

The second condition listed is that Serbia "should take steps in accordance with the Dayton Accord to end financial, political, security and other help to the parallel institutions of the Republic of Srpska [RS]”.

Finally, Serbia "should implement a policy that supports minority rights and the rule of law".

Of all the conditions, the second and third have already been fulfilled, while the first, after the arrest of Radovan Karadžića, is well on the way to be met, Tanjug says.

If the draft document is adopted, Serbia would get about USD 5mn less than during the last couple of years. The reason for this, diplomats say, is a general decrease of the U.S. aid funds meant for southeastern Europe.