AMERICANS TO FINANCE THREE PROJECTS IN SIBENIK AREA

SIBENIK, May 13 (Hina) - The U.S. Administration will finance the construction of the school in Cista Velika, help equip the health clinic in Cista Mala and complete the construction of the water supplies system between these two villages in the Sibenik hinterland, southern Croatia. Therefore Croatian authorities have to commit themselves to reconstructing houses in Cista Mala, a village where Serbs were a majority before the war and finish the reconstruction in Cista Velika populated by Croats, said Lynn Montgomery, the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, after she visited the area on Saturday. Mrs. Montgomery toured the villages together with State Department officials and representatives of the "Roots of Peace" organisation. The U.S. guests were accompanied by Sibenik-Knin county authorities. The Americans wanted to see how they can help in removal of mines from the hinterland of the coastal town of Vodice and from a former battle-line. Mrs. Montgomery said that as soon as the U.S. Administration and the Croatian Government signed an agreement on duties of the two parties, the implementation of the projects would start and Americans would ensure money for this purpose. To date the "Roots of Peace" organisation has raised funds valued 316,000 dollars for mine clearance, and Mrs. Montgomery helped ensure additional 200,000. The money was brought to Cista Velika and Cista Mala by the organisation's representatives. A group of Californian wine-growers also on Saturday toured these two villages and promised to help local farmers in the development of the wine-growing. (hina) ms