EU RECONSTRUCTION FOR RETURN PROGRAMME TO GIVE CROATIA 100 MILLION KUNA

ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - The "European Union Reconstruction for Return Programme" (EUPOP) and the Croatian Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction will on March 1 sign a partnership agreement, launching a 100-million-kuna programme of reconstruction in 13 Croatian municipalities, the Zagreb Office of the European Commission's Special Envoy said in a statement on Friday. The agreement will be signed by Minister Radimir Cacic and the head of the Office of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ABS), Alfons Peeters. At the same time and under the umbrella of the partnership agreement, ABS/EC will sign EUPOP agreements with 13 Croatian municipalities, covering reconstruction and related de-mining for a total of 100 million kuna, the statement said. The reconstruction programmes refer to those municipalities and towns which have honoured their commitments to support the process of return, reintegration and reconciliation in Croatia. The official signing of the agreement, to take place in Zagreb on March 1, will also be attended by EC Special Envoy Per Vinther and numerous Croatian and international representatives. The ASB/EC has since 1996 in Croatia implemented reconstruction programmes worth 43.5 million euros. More than 1,000 destroyed housing units have been reconstructed and numerous projects have been carried out in the field of public and economic infrastructure as well as mine clearance. (hina) jn rml