Some analysts question that boast.
Organizers of a fund-raising conference for reconstruction in the Balkans say the meeting has brought an unexpectedly hefty sum of economic aid aimed at sowing the seeds of stability. The projects approved for funding are largely quick-start schemes, designed to improve Balkan infrastructure rapidly and expedite democratic reforms. The donors conference was held nine months after the pact was adopted as a European Union-led program for repairing the damage from last year's Kosovo conflict. The pact has been strongly criticized in the Western for being slow in getting its aid engine started. Some independent analysts do not believe the donor conference accomplished very much.