Copenhagen, MAY 6 (RFE/RL) - The chief fund raiser for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says he already has raised 20-million dollars to finance free elections in Bosnia.
The OSCE official, Denmark's former Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann Jensen, told RFE/RL in Copenhagen that the U.S. and Canada are committed to contributing.
Jensen was on a weekend break back home, following a hectic fund-raising tour throughout Europe and North America. In Washington, he met Under Secretary of State Peter Tarnoff, and in Ottawa Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Jensen said Norway, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Finland and Switzerland also have made cash contributions, or have promised to do so. A total of 40-million dollars is needed by May 15. According to the Dayton accords, the elections in Bosnia must take place no later than September.
Jensen today meets France's Foreign Minister Herve de Charette in Paris. Tomorrow, he is in Bonn for talks with Germany's Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. And, Wednesday in Rome, Italy's Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli, currently chairing the European Union's Council of Ministers, is expected to commit the EU to a contribution.
Flavio Cotti, Switzerland's Foreign Minister and current chairman of the OSCE, appointed the Danish statesman two weeks ago to the OSCE fund-raising job. The OSCE is responsible for disarmament issues for Bosnia, as well as the elections.
The OSCE official, Denmark's former Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann Jensen, told RFE/RL in Copenhagen that the U.S. and Canada are committed to contributing.
Jensen was on a weekend break back home, following a hectic fund-raising tour throughout Europe and North America. In Washington, he met Under Secretary of State Peter Tarnoff, and in Ottawa Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Jensen said Norway, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, Finland and Switzerland also have made cash contributions, or have promised to do so. A total of 40-million dollars is needed by May 15. According to the Dayton accords, the elections in Bosnia must take place no later than September.
Jensen today meets France's Foreign Minister Herve de Charette in Paris. Tomorrow, he is in Bonn for talks with Germany's Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. And, Wednesday in Rome, Italy's Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli, currently chairing the European Union's Council of Ministers, is expected to commit the EU to a contribution.
Flavio Cotti, Switzerland's Foreign Minister and current chairman of the OSCE, appointed the Danish statesman two weeks ago to the OSCE fund-raising job. The OSCE is responsible for disarmament issues for Bosnia, as well as the elections.