OSIJEK-BARANJA COUNTY AGAINST CUTS IN BUDGET EARMARKING

OSIJEK, June 7 (Hina) - The authorities of Osijek-Baranja County objected to the part of a 1999 state budget revision motion referring to this eastern Croatian county which suffered heavily in the Serbian aggression earlier in the decade. Prefect Branimir Glavas told reporters in Osijek on Monday it was unfair to significantly reduce the budget earmarking for the county, which invests 33 percent of budget money into reconstruction and development. The state should earmark at least as much money as the county does itself invests, Glavas said. He assessed the motioned budget revision does not stimulate economic development in the county, and especially not reconstruction. According to Josip Skoric, head of the county Office for Reconstruction, the state budget revision envisages a US$38 million cut in funds for the reconstruction of family houses and a US$2 million cut for the infrastructure. This will significantly slow down the return of refugees and displaced persons, he said. (hina) ha jn