(Hina) - The Croatian Platform for International Citizens Solidarity (CROSOL) is expected to strengthen the cooperation of civil society organisations in Croatian projects of international development cooperation and humanitarian aid as well as to contribute to the realisation of the goals of Croatia's foreign policy, it was said in Zagreb on Wednesday.
CROSOL comprises 25 Croatian non-governmental organisations. It was established in February and is expected to become a member of CONCORD, the European NGO confederation for relief and development, in June.
Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić attended today's presentation of CROSOL.
The purpose of international development aid is to fight poverty and encourage sustainable development in poor and post-conflict states and societies around the world in the long term, which should not be confused with short term relief, it was said.
"Croatia is no longer treated internationally as a recipient of aid but is increasingly assuming the role of donor, notably after joining the European Union," said Gordan Bosanac, CROSOL Board chairman. He added that CROSOL became a legal entity today and that it was set up after years-long consultations to improve the cooperation between NGOs and the government in the implementation of development cooperation projects.
"Civil society organisations were turned to Croatia's democratisation for years. Now it's time to turn to the world," he added.
Pusić said international development aid was an important aspect of Croatia's foreign policy, adding that the state entered such projects because it was good, necessary and conducive to alleviating the calamities, suffering and inequality in the world.
"Development cooperation enables communication between states that is acceptable to all," she said, adding that Croatia had been both recipient and provider of aid. "When you experience both, there is less danger of autism and lack of understanding for a society receiving aid, which is crucial for the success of projects."
Pusić said this communication could encourage other forms of cooperation between states, such as in politics and the economy, "which is an important aspect of Croatia's foreign policy."
She went on to say that Croatia focused on three areas in international development cooperation - health care, education and the transfer of experience in transition - and that the bulk of the projects were aimed at women and young girls. She stressed that the cooperation between civil society organisations and the state "makes it possible to cover a much broader spectrum of situations in countries which need development aid and relief."
Pusić said the priority of Croatia's development aid strategy were the countries in the region, followed by the countries of the south Mediterranean and some countries in the rest of the world.
Most development projects were carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and many were carried out in Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Afghanistan, where Croatia built and equipped libraries in Mazar-i-Sharif, a school for 600 pupils at Camp Sakhui, two water towers, and supported the opening of a carpet factory, Pusić said.
Commenting on the marked decline in the number of projects implemented in Bosnia although the same amount was spent on them, she said the projects were combined so that aid was more effective. "We believe that the projects' goals should contribute to the quality of life in a community, be it culture, health, economic activity... but it's important that they are tangible and that they contribute to the wider community."