RECONSTRUCTION MINISTER VISITS OSIJEK COUNTY

OSIJEK, May 5 (Hina) - A total of 12,500 houses and housing units have been reconstructed in the Osijek-Baranja County, which cost about US$114 million, Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic said during his meeting with county officials on Wednesday. This year's plan is to reconstruct another 500 houses with the highest degree of damage and the state will subsidise the reconstruction of houses with the first three degrees of damage, Radic said during his talks with Osijek County Prefect Branimir Glavas and his associates. Speaking about flats for Homeland War victims, Radic said 348 flats were being constructed or completed in Osijek, Donji Miholjac, Beli Manastir, Djakovo and Nasice, while another 11 were being built in Valpovo. The construction costs amount to US$13 million, Radic said. The Osijek-Baranja County is one of the most successful counties as regards land insurance, the preparation of locations and infrastructure, the Minister said. He expressed gratitude to the Osijek County, which was the first among the Croatian counties to meet its commitment and finance the reconstruction of one facility in Vukovar. The county financed the reconstruction of the Employment Bureau, which was officially re- opened on the Day of Vukovar last Monday. The officials pointed to the problem of reconstruction of 174 houses in deserted areas in the county. Josip Skoric, head of the County Office for Reconstruction, stressed the problem of damaged roads in the Danube River region. (hina) rml