USAID TO FINANCE RETURN OF MINORITIES TO HERZEGOVINA CANTON

MOSTAR, April 13 (Hina) - Representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and officials of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton signed a memorandum of understanding in Mostar on Tuesday. According to the memorandum, the Unites States will finance reconstruction projects worth US$3.5 million in those parts of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton where representatives of minorities have returned. The memorandum was signed by the United States Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Richard Kauzlarich, the director of the USAID mission to BH, Craig Buck, Mostar's mayor Ivan Prskalo, Herzegovina Neretva Canton Prefect Hamo Maslesa, and heads of Mostar's six municipalities. Two and a half million US dollars will be invested in the reconstruction of traffic infrastructure and power production facilities in Mostar's settlements of Bijeli Brijeg and Rastani, as well as on the Dubravska Plain, near Stolac. One million will be invested in the building of school and water supply facilities, the director of the USAID mission to BH said. The United States needs partners who are implementing the Dayton Agreement, to realise aid projects, Kauzlarich said. According to Prefect Maslesa, in comparison to the entire Bosnia- Herzegovina, the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton has so far registered the largest number of minority returns - about 6,000. He called on the international community to intensify its financial help for the return. (hina) it/jn rml