Kosovo Costs Extend To All Of Balkans

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD), which groups the world's biggest industrial nations, warns that although the economic costs of the Kosovo crisis may be relatively small, they will undermine programs to develop the economies of Eastern Europe's Balkan region. Combined gross domestic product of the area's countries could fall 5 percent. Funds needed to close balance of payments gaps could total $1.5 billion Paris-based OECD says trade, transport, tourism, and foreign investment are being hit the hardest. With foreign investor confidence seriously hurt, borrowing costs are rising and a pick-up in much needed direct investment is being delayed. However, the U.S., western Europe, and Japan are sheltered from the fall-out. Less than 1% of their exports go to the Balkans.