RECONSTRUCTION MINISTER & U.S. AMBASSADOR SIGN REFUGEE PROJECT

KISTANJE, OKLAJ, Mar 9 (Hina) - Croatia's Reconstruction and Development Minister and the United States ambassador to Croatia on Tuesday signed a statement on the joint participation of the Croatian and U.S. governments in an integral project covering the southern Croatian area of Kistanje. The project would consist in providing care for Croat refugees from Kosovo who settled in the Kistanje area, and in effecting the return of Croatian Serbs who fled the area following its liberation from Serbian occupation in 1995. Minister Jure Radic and Ambassador William Montgomery pointed out the statement signed today was the first aspect of cooperation between the Croatian and U.S. governments in inciting the Serbs' return to Croatia and providing care for settled Kosovo Croats. Montgomery and Kistanje municipal head Pasko Erak today signed an agreement on the financing of one part of a project for the building of 120 houses in Kistanje. Construction works began six weeks ago, and the U.S. Development Fund will, according to the agreement, invest US$200,000 in infrastructure building. All 120 houses are intended for Croat refugees from Kosovo, including 20 for Kosovo Croats who will move out of Serb-owned houses which they entered a few years ago. Pre-war owners - Croatian Serb returnees, should then move in. Ambassador Montgomery said the Kistanje project testified to the continuation of cooperation between Croatia and the U.S. He hoped stronger cooperation would help accelerate the return of property to pre-war owners. As part of the visit to Sibenik-Knin County, Radic and Montgomery also visited Oklaj, where the reconstruction and development minister signed an agreement on the construction of an aqueduct aimed at ensuring sufficient quantities of drinking water for the entire local area. (hina) ha