Glavni ciljevi ove inicijative -- zasnovane u Sarajevu u ljeto 1999. - nisu se mnogo razlikovali od prethodnih ideja za sprječavanje sukoba u regionu, ali Pakt stabilnosti ponudio je jednu obećavajuću novu dimenziju -- ekonomski razvoj i regionalnu saradnju.
The main goals of the initiative -- which was introduced in Sarajevo in the summer of 1999 -- were not much different from previous conflict prevention ideas for the region, but the Stability Pact offered a promising new dimension -- economic development and regional co-operation.