Balkan Reconstruction Agency names a director, assings its personnel to Thessaloniki and Pristina and prepares its activity
(ANA - 18.1.2000)

The European Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans organised its work on Monday and adopted its first decisions.

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos welcomed the EU’s spirit of enterprise for the Balkans and its choice of Thessaloniki as the city that will define the strategy for reconstruction.

The first meeting of the Steering Council was chaired by Fabrizio Barbaso, Director at the European Commision, obtaiting the following decisions:

• Appointment of the Director of the Agency, Hugues Mingarelli, a French senior official.
• The assignment of its personell to the administrative central office in Thessaloniki (one third of staff) and the operational office in Pristina (two thirds).
• Adoption of its first priorities. Mr. Mingarelli said the Agency would be active first in Kosovo and then extend its action to the other Western Balkan countries.

The Agency is expected to be fully operational beginning next month.