ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Croatia expects the international community's assistance for the reconstruction of Croatia's war-devastated areas to be much more substantial than in the past, Reconstruction Minister Radimir Cacic said on
Wednesday. Cacic was speaking at the first session of a reconstruction and infrastructure task force set up by a government coordinating body for areas of special government concern. The session was attended by county, town, and municipal representatives from areas of special government concern, and representatives of potential donor countries and organisations in Croatia. Minister Cacic said the reconstruction of objects demolished in last decade's war was financed from the state budget and that to date, about nine billion kuna (US$1.125 billion) were spent to that effect, and that 99,000 housing units, 180 schools and social and public
ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Croatia expects the international
community's assistance for the reconstruction of Croatia's war-
devastated areas to be much more substantial than in the past,
Reconstruction Minister Radimir Cacic said on Wednesday.
Cacic was speaking at the first session of a reconstruction and
infrastructure task force set up by a government coordinating body
for areas of special government concern.
The session was attended by county, town, and municipal
representatives from areas of special government concern, and
representatives of potential donor countries and organisations in
Croatia.
Minister Cacic said the reconstruction of objects demolished in
last decade's war was financed from the state budget and that to
date, about nine billion kuna (US$1.125 billion) were spent to that
effect, and that 99,000 housing units, 180 schools and social and
public utility infrastructure buildings were reconstructed. The
international community's share in these projects was relatively
small, only seven percent, he added.
Cacic believes the reconstruction concept has been well set up and
that certain "diversions" have been corrected. He said there must
be no divisions, like those saying that the Croatian government was
supporting the reconstruction of Croat-owned houses and the return
of Croats, whereas the international community supported Serb
returns.
The minister said there indeed had been instances of obstructions
in the issuance of papers for the reconstruction, but that steps
were taken against those who did it. We believe this will help step
up the issuing of necessary papers and a more successful
cooperation with the international community, Cacic added.
Ljudevit Herceg, one of the task force's chairmen, said a contract
would be signed with contractors on July 14 for the construction of
2,640 buildings in war-affected areas with funds earmarked from the
state budget.
Construction will begin soon, Herceg said. Roofs will be put up by
December 15, while works are expected to be completed by 30 June
2001.
Herceg believes an international loan of 240 million kuna (US$30
million) will be granted, enabling the construction of another 520
objects.
According to Alfons Peters, the task force's other chairman and a
representative of the European Commission, the task force will
abide in its work by the principle of transparent spending and the
principle of a sustainable refugee return process.
The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Mission to Croatia, Robert Robertson, said the main reason why the
task force was set up was to manage available means and establish
priorities in the reconstruction.
(hina) ha jn