ONE OF VUKOVAR'S MAIN STREETS RENAMED EUROPEAN UNION STREET

VUKOVAR, March 30 (Hina) - One of Vukovar's main streets, the former Josip Kras Street, was renamed European Union Street on Thursday. A plaque bearing the street's new name was jointly unveiled by Vukovar mayor Vladimir Stengl and EU Ambassador to Croatia Per Vinther. Pointing to the significance of EU's contribution to the reconstruction of Vukovar, mayor Stengl said that in European Union Street, the utilities infrastructure and 25 family houses, of which under EU's sponsorship, were being rebuilt thanks to joint Croatian and international community efforts and investments. Fourteen thousand of Vukovar's 15,000 housing units were destroyed in last decade's war, the mayor pointed out. Thus far, 1,755 flats and 600 houses have been rebuilt. The total war damage is estimated at EUR700 million, he said. EU Ambassador Vinther has said the EU has invested more than 100 million kuna (US$12.5 million) in the reconstruction of Vukovar since 1996. The renaming of the street is an award to EU's taxpayers, who made the rebuilding of Vukovar possible, and to Vukovar's residents it is a view into the future, Vinther said, adding the EU would increase its participation in reviving small economy and entrepreneurship in eastern Croatia. (hina) ha jn