Fule Urges Solidarity at Flood Aid Conference

The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele, called on the international donors' conference, which opened in Brussels on Wednesday, to show solidarity when pledging assistance to flood-hit Bosnia and Serbia.

"I hope we can use this moment of solidarity to help ensure that the countries of this region never have to endure the same destruction as we witnessed in May," he said.

In six months, the European Commission will host a follow-up conference to track progress in implementing the cash pledged on Wednesday, he added.

At the conference, representatives of Bosnia and Serbia will present their official reports on the damage caused by the recent floods.

Serbia estimates that the damage to its economy, infrastructure and homes in May cost it 1.5 billion euros, while Bosnia and Herzegovina puts the total bill at over 2 billion euros.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic expressed thanks in advance for the support his country expects from the conference. "We will erect a monument to the donors," Nikolic said.

Bakir Izetbegovic, Chairman of the Bosnian Presidency, said the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia would only be possible if the two worked together.

"There was cooperation and solidarity [between the countries] during the floods, and it has continued since the water receded," Izetbegovic told the conference.

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