VINTHER, CACIC OPEN RECONSTRUCTED APARTMENT BUILDING IN VOJNIC

VOJNIC, June 5 (Hina) - The European Commission's Ambassador to Croatia, Per Vinther, and Croatia's Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction, Radimir Cacic, on Tuesday opened a newly-reconstructed building with 17 flats in Vojnic, some 70 kilometres south of Zagreb. The EU recently opened another renovated building in Vojnic and the total value of the two buildings, named Europa 1 and Europa 2, with 23 flats, is 600,000 euros. Ambassador Vinther said the reconstruction of flats and infrastructure in Vojnic was an example of good cooperation between the EU, international organisations operating in Croatia and the Croatian government. The two buildings will provide accommodation for 46 families, mostly Bosnian Croats who found accommodation in Serb houses and flats in the municipality. The return of Serbs is not possible without providing alternative accommodation for the people occupying Serb houses, Vinther and Cacic said. They commended the assistance and understanding of the local authorities and added that the international community would invest another 700,000 euros in the reconstruction of flats, houses and infrastructure in Vojnic. This municipality, which is part of Karlovac County, is inhabited by some 1,900 Croats, mostly refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of Croatia. More than 2,500 pre-war residents of Serb nationality have returned to this municipality so far. (hina) rml