CROATIAN MINISTER AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE REPS HOLD TALKS IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - Croatia's Minister for European Integration, Ljerka Mintas Hodak, on Friday talked with Rafael Alomaro, the governor of the Council of Europe Fund for Social Development, and Reiner Steckhan, the loans director, on the implementation and extension of programmes which are being conducted in Croatia with the support of the Council of Europe Fund. This referred to a project of reconstruction of first aid centres, hospitals and clinics as well as of schools, implemented by the Croatian Reconstruction and Development Ministry, in eastern Slavonia, read a statement issued by the Government. The Zagreb talks between Mintas Hodak and the Council of Europe officials revolved around the launch of projects aimed at social cohesion, with the support of this Fund. This should be a pilot project which covers the entire reconstruction of a town in Croatia, and will be the first project of such kind in Europe, read the statement. This project would include the recovery of all elements of economic and social life in the village. Not only houses and factories or production plants should be renovated but also all strata of social life should be revived. The Reconstruction Ministry will be authorised to lead this pilot programme's conduct. Mintas Hodak, Alomaro, Steckhan, also concluded that the programme of the reconstruction of schools in eastern Slavonia should include the financing for the school equipment. (hina) ms