RETURNEES FROM OSIJEK COUNTY DISSATISFIED WITH 2000 RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME

OSIJEK, Aug 8 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Returnees' Association, Josip Kompanovic, on Tuesday sent a letter to the Croatian Government and the Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction, Radimir Cacic, expressing dissatisfaction with the 2000 reconstruction programme. Kompanovic said the Osijek branch office for reconstruction supervision had sent the Association a list of households in Osijek County which are included in the 2000 reconstruction programme in line with a decision by the Ministry. Of the 850 houses, which the Ministry promised to reconstruct, only 29 are included in the list, Kompanovic said. Due to the complex situation, the Association last night called an extraordinary session, Kompanovic said, adding returnees from Osijek County demanded from the Ministry of Public Works to immediately withdraw the list of priorities for the reconstruction of family houses from the 2000 programme and accept proposals by units of local self-government, which included the families which were in the most difficult situation. "Compared to the lists which preceded the last one, many returnees have been taken off the list without the knowledge and consent of units of local-self government, at whose proposal the lists have been made so far," the letter read. The Association also requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction, as well as additional funds for the 2000 reconstruction programme, which should be secured through budgetary revision. (hina) rml