ATWOOD COMMENDS EFFORTS OF NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE

( Editorial: --> 8170 ) VUKOVAR, 23 Jan (Hina)- Present population of the Croatian Danube region and the returnees have already started communicating, which will make the implementation of our Programme for Assisted Reconstruction and Return (RRAP) easier than we expected, said today Brian Atwood, director of the US agency for international development, USAID. Atwood especially commended the work of president of the National Reconciliation Committee Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, saying that the citizens in the Croatian Danube region could be satisfied with her care for equality and fair treatment of all, irrespective of their ethnicity. In Trpinja Brian Atwood and the USAID's manager for Croatia Charles Annenson opened an arts center and an elementary school which have been renovated with a USAID's donation of more than $US 70,000. In Vukovar they visited entrepreneurs who have received the agency's loans for small enterprises. (Hina)mm mr 292031 MET jan 98