BiH foreign minister Mladen Ivanic, members of the US Embassy to BiH and the head of USAID mission signed the fourth amendment to the agreement on US donations to BiH for the implementation of the Community Reintegration and Stabilisation Programme (CRSP).

BiH will accordingly receive USD 7.1mn for renovation of infrastructure in relation to facilitating of the refugee return process. Since CRSP was signed on Jul 6 2000, BiH has been assisted with a total of USD 300mn by the US through IDA.

The funds were used for projects that sustained post-war returns of refugees and displaced persons to the country and included reconstruction of infrastructure at community level, as well as strengthening of institutions in their efforts to provide public utilities.

USAID invested the same day also USD 1.7mn for equipment and office space, which USA extended to the BiH Agency for Insurance of Deposits and the RS Banking Agency.

(IntelliNews 08.viii.03)