Statement by Ms. Barbara Tuge-Erecinska, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland at Regional Funding Conference for South-East Europe Brussels, 29 March 2000   I.    Ladies and Gentlemen,Comprehending the needs and priorities of the European security, seen as whole, Poland has taken an active part in international community`s efforts to bring peace and stability in the Balkans. We have participated in UNPROFOR, UNPREDEP, and various observatory missions. Let me remind you that former Polish Prime Minister, Tadeusz Mazowiecki was appointed by the UN Human Rights Commission, the first specialrapporteur for former Yugoslavia. We are currently present in SFOR and KFOR and we provide humanitarian and technical aid to the countries of the Balkan region. The total value of our engagement in the Balkans amounted to as much as 30 million US dollars in 1999 alone. This was done even without being granted a member status in the Stability Pact. We estimate that this year contribution will be maintained on a similar level. The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland has already accepted the framework for the programme of our engagement in the region. The Pact itself has always been highly estimated by Poland, and seen as a valuable instrument in international engagement to bring stability and development of the Balkans. We especially appreciate the unique holistic approach towards the region. We are contributing to the fulfilment of the goals of the Stability Pact, considering ourselves to be a facilitator-country. To illustrate the point I may quote numerous Polish projects, which are already under way, and which have been submitted both through Council of Europe and through Stability Pact. As we speak final preparations are being made by the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration to launch a training programme for police force from Kosovo area. Throughout the year training will continue to be provided for 260 representatives of local communities in Albania. Various Polish bodies, organisations, and other subjects are operating in the region. There are over a thousand servicemen in the Balkans, and more are expected to arrive within the next couple of months. Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is co-inancing and supporting the establishment of the Permanent Mission of Polish NGO`s to be located in Kacanik and Strpce -the region where Polish KFOR contingent is stationed. Decentralisation, civil society building, regional and cross-border co-operation are acknowledged as particularly good means to achieve the proper atmosphere for peaceful and stable development of societies and for creating good neighbourly relations. On these very areas we have concentrated our efforts providing aid and assistance to the Balkans. Poland has got vast experience in political and economic transformation. We know the traps, the costs, and the benefits. And we want to share our knowledge with those who are in need of it. We are capable of pointing the paths leading from totalitarian regime to a democratic state with a functioning market economy. From rump and fruitless regional co-operation to the wealth of friendly international relations. The fresh memories of the totalitarian past and the awareness  of the difficulties arising from the need to break the barriers, overcome obstacles, and pave new roads, constitute a priceless heritage, the lessons of which we are able to deliver to the countries of the Balkan region. And we are doing this already. It is being done by hundreds of Polish experts and dozens of NGO`s, who possess full expertise and technical capabilities. Some basics concerning our offer can be found in the position paper. Having said the above, we expect that Poland`s status in the Pact will be reconsidered during the next meeting of the Regional Table in Saloniki. Thank you very much. II. Position Paper on Polish Engagement in the Stability Pact 1. Poland accepts in full the objectives of the Stability Pact`s for South-Eastern Europe and has participated in the Pact from its commencement despite not being a member. 2. In 1999, the value of Poland`s engagement in the region amounted to approximately 30 million USD. In the year 2000, beside continuing support for Poland`s contingent in SFOR, KFOR and AFOR, there will be further financing provided by the state budget and public organisations for humanitarian aid purposes as well as for activities aimed at building democratic societies. 3. Poland`s activity within the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe results from Poland`s tradition of economic relations with the nations of former Yugoslavia and other South-Eastern European states. Poland also maintained ties of solidarity with the nations affected by war devastation. 4. On 18 January, 2000 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland adopted a document containing the framework for Poland`s participation in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. 5. A fundamental form of Polish activity in strengthening security in South-Eastern Europe is the Polish contingent`s participation in the SFOR and KFOR missions. Poland is also interested in participating in the building of means of trust between nations within the Pact`s activities. Polish experts are prepared to participate in establishing of systems for monitoring and exchanging information regarding military spending, locations and activities of military during peacetime. 6. Poland`s experiences of political and economic transformation, especially as far as building of a civil society is concerned, can prove valuable to nations placed in the analogous situation and in need of forming democratic institutions. 7. In autumn 1999, with the support of the Polish government, a permanent Polish mission for non-governmental organisations has been created in the Kosovo region. Beside providing humanitarian aid, the mission will support other activities, including those aimed at creating institutions of a civilsociety. 8. Financing will be provided for undertakings in the Kosovo area, in Kacanik and Strpce communities - the region where Poland`s military KFOR contingent operates. The possibility of rebuilding a school, a hospital there or other element of infrastructure is under consideration. 9. This year the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support the implementation of training programmes for the local Albanian self-government activists. 10.Passing the knowledge regarding the creation of self-government will play a role in developing co-operation between local communities. This would include partnerships between Polish cities and the cities in the Balkans. Non-governmental organisations and the Union of Polish Cities have prepared concrete proposals of activities in this area, which were submitted to the Council of Europe. 11. Poland supports the initiative of a so-called ``school of tolerance`` to be held in Sarajevo in late summer 2000. This idea was presented during a meeting held in Warsaw on the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Child (27-28.09.1999). 12. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration has prepared, among other things, a programme for training the police. It has also declared its willingness to participate in projects concerning migration, the return of refugees, combating crime and participation in administering transborder co-operation. The Government of the Republic of Poland is of the belief that full participation in the Stability Pact cannot depend solely on individual nations` fulfilment of financial criteria, such as the size of contributions to aid funds. Rather, participation must be dependent upon their political engagement and their readiness to fulfil Pact objectives. Due to this, we expect that Poland`s status in the Pact will be reconsidered during the next meeting of the Regional Table in Saloniki.