FOUNDATION STONE FOR KINDERGARTEN LAID IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Apr 16 (Hina) - The foundation stone for an SOS kindergarten was laid on Friday in Mitnica, the most devastated district of Vukovar, the eastern Croatian town which was almost razed to the ground in Serbian attacks in 1991. The kindergarten, which will accommodate some 60 children, will be financed with DM1 million by SOS Kinderdorf International, the world's largest non-government organisation providing care for children and the youth. The organisation will also finance the kindergarten's work and staff salaries in the first two years. The kindergarten is expected to be opened at the end of this summer. The foundation stone was laid by Croatian parliament vice president Jadranka Kosor and the regional director of SOS Kinderdorf International's Region Europe 1, Michael Poeltl. The building of the kindergarten is a sign of life returning to Vukovar, Kosor said. According to the Croatian government's Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, a total of 2,269 returnees have come back to Vukovar to date, including 409 children. Poeltl said his organisation was willing to continue assisting Croatia and other neighbouring countries which suffered damage in the recent war through such and similar projects. (hina) ha jn