ZAGREBACKA BANK DONATES 100,000 KUNA FOR RESTORATION OF ARBORETUM

DUBROVNIK, Sept 5 (Hina) - The Zagrebacka Bank donated 100,000 kuna (US$11,904) for the restoration of the Arboretum botanical garden near Dubrovnik, Mirjana Petir of the Environment Protection and Urban Development Ministry, Mirjana Petir, told a news conference Tuesday. The botanical garden was virtually destroyed in a blazing fire which broke out on August 20. The funds will be allocated for the restoration of areas covered by autochtonous vegetation, Aleppo pine and cypress forests, and the reconstruction of a garden grown in the romantic style in the late 19th century. Petir assessed fire protection services had omitted to do their job in the last fire, which happened, according to information she had been given, money earmarked by the World Bank for this purpose had been spent in other areas. The bank's check will be handed over in the Arboretum Tuesday night. More than a half of the Arboretum was destroyed in the last fire, ,including large sections of cypress and Aleppo pine forests and the 19th century garden, which sprawled to the sea with stone flights of stairs. Destroyed was the reconstructed part of the Arboretum, which had already been consumed by fire in the Homeland War. The oldest part of the Arboretum - a Renaissance garden dating back to the 15th century - was preserved. (hina) lml jn