OSIJEK, Jan 31 (Hina) - A Hungarian state delegation, led by Premier Viktor Orban, visited the Hungarian-dominated eastern Slavonian villages of Korodj and Laslovo on Sunday. Accompanied by Croatian government officials and MPs, Orban
visited war-ravaged Reformed Christian churches in the two villages, the reconstruction of which the Hungarian Government wants to finance, and talked to local residents and officials. So far, 42 houses in Korodj have been reconstructed and 378 pre-war residents have returned to the village. Following the Serbian aggression on Laslovo, 1,180 residents fled their homes. About 130 houses in Laslovo have been repaired to date. The slow pace of return is being additionally aggravated by the unrepaired power and water supply infrastructure. "We have come here to gain insight into the course of reconstruction and the needs of the population; I have agreed with the Cr
OSIJEK, Jan 31 (Hina) - A Hungarian state delegation, led by Premier
Viktor Orban, visited the Hungarian-dominated eastern Slavonian
villages of Korodj and Laslovo on Sunday.
Accompanied by Croatian government officials and MPs, Orban
visited war-ravaged Reformed Christian churches in the two
villages, the reconstruction of which the Hungarian Government
wants to finance, and talked to local residents and officials.
So far, 42 houses in Korodj have been reconstructed and 378 pre-war
residents have returned to the village. Following the Serbian
aggression on Laslovo, 1,180 residents fled their homes. About 130
houses in Laslovo have been repaired to date.
The slow pace of return is being additionally aggravated by the
unrepaired power and water supply infrastructure.
"We have come here to gain insight into the course of reconstruction
and the needs of the population; I have agreed with the Croatian
Premier that Hungary would provide funds to fully reconstruct two
churches and two primary schools in this war-ravaged area", Orban
told reporters adding he asked in exchange that "the Croatian
Government accelerate the reconstruction of housing facilities".
"Our next task is for all to abide by our promises and I hope that
Hungarian government representatives would soon attend the first
holy mass at the reconstructed church in Korodj", he added.
A Croatian Government vice premier and Minister for European
Integration, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, stressed the importance of
Hungary's joining in the reconstruction of villages with Hungarian
population, considering the fact that the Croatian Government
funds were not sufficient.
She described the visit of the Hungarian delegation as
"exceptionally successful" adding she believed that it would
contribute to intensifying economic and other relations between
the two countries.
Mintas-Hodak said the two sides had also agreed to maintain
"regular contact and exchange experience" regarding accessing
European integration processes.
The Hungarian Premier will end his visit to Croatia by visiting the
village of Kopacevo, in the Baranja region, where he is to meet
members of the Hungarian minority.
(hina) rml