USD 9 MILLION INVESTED IN RECONSTRUCTION OF WAR-TORN EASTERN TOWN

VUKOVAR, Nov 4 (Hina) - A little more than 75 million kuna (approx. $9 million) have been invested by all Croatian counties, including the City of Zagreb, and several domestic and foreign donors, over the past four years in the reconstruction of 29 buildings of public use in Vukovar, the eastern-most town which suffered extensive damage in the 1990s war. The Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction Ministry has estimated that approximately 180 million kuna ($21.7 million) are necessary to complete works on said facilities. About a dozen have been renovated thus far, with 114.1 million kuna ($13.7 million) invested in the reconstruction by 31 July this year. The difference in the donated and spent money has been covered by the state budget. An appeal to help in the reconstruction of Vukovar was made by the former Croatian president, the late Franjo Tudjman, who in 1997 called on every Croatian county to renovate one public building in the town. During a recent visit there, Ljudevit Herceg, the assistant public works minister, said all buildings had to be renovated by 1 May 2002, which requires ensuring an additional 65 million kuna ($7.8 million). (hina) ha