    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 18, 1999]
    [Pages 2110-2111]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Assistance for Southeast Europe
    November 18, 1999

        I am pleased that yesterday in Brussels the international community
    pledged over $1 billion in new assistance to consolidate peace and
    promote economic recovery in Kosovo. I am particularly pleased that our
    European partners committed the lion's share of this amount, with the
    European Commission and EU members together pledging over three-quarters
    of a billion dollars and additional pledges from other European states.
        These contributions will not only provide a significant boost to
    economic revitalization and reconstruction but also help to fund public
    administration, establish a civil emergency service corps, strengthen
    public security and the rule of law, promote market reforms, and
    encourage private investment. We did our part by announcing plans to
    provide $157 million for Kosovo, pending final action on the budget
    before Congress.
        Today at the OSCE summit in Istanbul, Europe demonstrated its strong
    leadership in support of recovery and stabilization throughout

    [[Page 2111]]

    southeast Europe. I welcome European Commission President Prodi's intention to have the EC provide nearly 12 billion
    euros (approximately $12.5 billion) of assistance to the region during
    2000-2006. Such a substantial package will create tremendous
    opportunities for those countries and affirm in the strongest terms
    European support for their transformation. We are continuing our
    assistance programs to encourage political and economic reform and
    advance the region's integration with the rest of Europe.