CROATIA, BOSNIA SIGN CONTRACT ON RECONSTRUCTION OF CROAT HOUSES

KORNICE, Nov 21 (Hina) - The Croatian Government and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday signed a contract on the construction of damaged and destroyed houses of Croats from Kornice, a village in Samac municipality in the Bosnian Serb entity, who are living in exile in Serb houses in Croatia. The contract binds the Croatian government to set aside 20 million kuna of budgetary funds for the purchase of 400 sets of construction material for the reconstruction of their houses. The contract was signed by Croatian Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction Minister Radimir Cacic and Bosnia's Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Kresimir Zubak. This is the best way Croatia can contribute to the process of return to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cacic said. "The Croatian state wants and can assist in the return to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Croatian government will help all those wishing to return," Cacic said. Bosnia's Zubak said coexistence in Bosnia was possible to establish only if all citizens returned to their homes. Kornice is a village with Croat residents, who were expelled from their homes in 1992. Their houses were damaged and destroyed. Of 882 exiled villagers, 28 families have returned so far. Twenty-nine Serb refugee families from central Bosnia are living in the village as well. Only eight of 192 damaged or destroyed family have been repaired so far. (hina) sb rml