ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - The mayor of the southern town of Drnis, Ante Dzelalija and the director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for Croatia, William Jeffers, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding
regulating US assistance for the economic development of this area (in the Split hinterland) until 2007.
ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - The mayor of the southern town of Drnis, Ante
Dzelalija and the director of the US Agency for International
Development (USAID) for Croatia, William Jeffers, on Wednesday signed
a memorandum of understanding regulating US assistance for the
economic development of this area (in the Split hinterland) until
2007.#L#
The town of Drnis and the USAID began their successful cooperation two
years ago, and since then they have cooperated in the reconstruction
of the local water supply system and power transmission grid, built
two school playgrounds, provided equipment for the day care centre,
renovated the town market and provided the local utilities company
with equipment.
The US Administration has never questioned its obligation to help
Croatia in its reconstruction and economic revival, and Washington has
earmarked 386 million dollars to date for the strengthening of
Croatia's democratic institutions and for the reform of its political
and social projects, said US Ambassador to Croatia, Ralph Frank, who
was also in Drnis on Wednesday.
The United States has invested two and a half million dollars through
the USAID programmes in the reconstruction of the Drnis area and its
social revitalisation, the ambassador said, adding that he hoped that
new programmes would contribute to a greater extent to improving
living conditions in Drnis.
(Hina) ms sb