RADIC SIGNS CONTRACTS ON RECONSTRUCTION OF 545 HOUSES

BELI MANASTIR, Sept 6 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction Minister Jure Radic on Monday in Beli Manastir signed contracts with 32 contractors on the reconstruction of 545 houses in the eastern Croatian Osijek-Baranja County. A total of DM31 million, to be provided by the Ministry of Development, Immigration and Reconstruction, will be invested into the reconstruction of the houses. The houses are included into the reconstruction programme 1999/2000. The completion date is April 30, 2000. The reconstruction of another 300 houses in the county will be financed with the shares of the Croatian Privatisation Fund, so that about 1,000 houses will be built or reconstructed in this construction season, Radic said. He announced the construction of 500 flats for Homeland War victims in Osijek-Baranja County. A total of 12,317 homes, of which 2,000 had been completely destroyed, have been rebuilt or reconstructed so far, Radic said. Premier Zlatko Matesa, who attended the ceremony, said the signing of the contracts was a good occasion to remind of how much money the Croatian state invested in reconstruction and the removal of war damage. Regretfully, this is often forgotten, Matesa said, adding 30 per cent of the budget money was being spent for reconstruction and the removal of war damage. We have to be aware that the state will be spending a lot of money for that purpose in the years to come, he said. According to a recently completed study, war damage in Croatia amounts to US35 million, Matesa said. (hina) jn rml,