Brussels, 14/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - A little more than a year after the regional donor conference for the Balkans, which had seen the adopting of more than 200 projects for EUR 2.4 billion, the co-ordinator for the Stability Pact for the Balkans presented to the press a first assessment that he qualifies as a "success". "We would always hope that things move faster, but it is a true success, the package of "quick start" projects gave a veritable impetus to South Eastern Europe, stated Bodo Hombach, when underlining that 201 of the 244 projects have already been launched. The co-ordinator for the Stability Pact also felt that the rate of payment for the projects is "satisfactory", notably with regards to the absorption capability of these countries, even though there are delays due to the administrative procedures on the donor side, as with problems with the beneficiaries, which sometimes do not fulfil the legal conditions. The payment rate of the promised money, oscillates, according to the figures provided by the Stability Pact, from 55% for justice, home affairs and security projects (table III), to 70% for those from table I (democracy, human rights and return of refugees), to 75% for the infrastructure projects. For the next regional donor conference, which the Stability Pact wants to organise on 25 and 26 October, Bodo Hombach called for emphasis to be placed on the medium and long-term projects for the return of refugees, infrastructure, private investment, regional trade, and the reintegration of former soldiers into civil society. He also called for the private sector to take part in this conference. (The Stability Pact report on the state of advancement, project by project, of the "Quick start" package may be found on the Pact site, at http://www.stability.org ).