ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Thanks to Croatia's significantly better image and position, the Regional Funding Conference of the Stability Pact allocated Croatia more resources than had been requested for the realisation of five
infrastructure projects, Croatian Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction Minister Radimir Cacic said Monday. One of the projects is the construction of a 23 kilometre section of the Zagreb -- Gorican highway (to the Hungarian border), which received the greatest support of Hungarians, Cacic told a news conference. According to him, participants of the funding conference particularly positively assessed the Ministry project pertaining to the return of refugees. Participants of the conference gave US$55.6 million worth guarantees for the project by which 16,500 Croatian citizens of Serb nationality, currently in Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, would return to Croatia. The proj
ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Thanks to Croatia's significantly better
image and position, the Regional Funding Conference of the
Stability Pact allocated Croatia more resources than had been
requested for the realisation of five infrastructure projects,
Croatian Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction Minister
Radimir Cacic said Monday.
One of the projects is the construction of a 23 kilometre section of
the Zagreb -- Gorican highway (to the Hungarian border), which
received the greatest support of Hungarians, Cacic told a news
conference.
According to him, participants of the funding conference
particularly positively assessed the Ministry project pertaining
to the return of refugees.
Participants of the conference gave US$55.6 million worth
guarantees for the project by which 16,500 Croatian citizens of
Serb nationality, currently in Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina,
would return to Croatia.
The project also envisages the return of Croats to Bosanska
Posavina.
Cacic said the significance of the project was far more complex than
it appeared at first glance.
All this, he said, confirmed the claims by the Ministry that the
decrease in government budget funds for the return of refugees and
displaced persons would be compensated with other activities,
which should make it possible to maintain, even expedite the return
process.
With the budget resources, 530 million kuna (US$66.25 million) and
those received from the European Union this year's funds intended
for the return have exceeded expectations, Cacic said.
Assistant Minister in charge for refugees and displaced persons,
Lovre Pejkovic, said 24,000 displaced people were planning to
return to Croatia by the end of the year.
Moreover, the return of 20,000 Croatian citizens from abroad is
expected, and the 7,500 refugees from Bosanska Posavina currently
in Croatia are expected to return to their homes and into Central
Bosnia.
The reconstruction of 1,500 homes is currently underway in the
Croatian Danube River region, which should enable the return of
about five thousand displaced persons, Ljudevit Herceg, Assistant
Minister in charge of reconstruction, said.
Thanks to the budgetary support of 175 million kuna (US$21.87
million), two thousand more people would be able to return to this
eastern Croatian region.
Ministry officials described as exceptionally important the
reconstruction of infrastructure and the revival of the economy.
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