6 120 HOUSES RECONSTRUCTED IN 1997

( Editorial: --> 8660 ) ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - A total of 75,600 family houses and flats destroyed or damaged during the war have been reconstructed in Croatia so far, which cost over US$793,650,000. The money was set aside mainly from the government budget, and only one per cent of the total was ensured by the international community. According to the Reconstruction and Development Ministry, 6,120 family houses with high degrees of damage (fourth, fifth and sixth) have been reconstructed during 1997, and 950 houses were included into the Reconstruction Programme for 1996. About US$250 million was spent for the reconstruction of family houses in 1997. Most family houses or flats were reconstructed in the Vukovar- Srijem County (1,300), followed by the Sisak-Moslavina County (720), Zadar County (690), Sibenik-Knin County (680), Osijek- Baranja County (550), Karlovac County (520), Lika-Senj County (350), Dubrovnik-Neretva County (240) and the Split-Dalmatia County (120). In the Croatian Danube river region, family houses of the first to third degrees of damage were gradually reconstructed, so 1,200 family houses have been completed. The Reconstruction and Development Ministry last year reconstructed or is completing the reconstruction of 1,500 flats in Vukovar and Borovo, which cost US$13.5 million, out of which about US$9.5 was spent for the reconstruction of 400 flats for invalids of the Homeland War. During the war, 1,122 Catholic buildings have been destroyed or damaged, 751 of which are churches. Th reconstruction of 17 churches was planned for last year, 10 were reconstructed of which seven were reconstructed with the co- funding of the Reconstruction and Development Ministry. Work on the reconstruction of 48 schools began last year and 21 were completed. About US$7.6 million were spent for the reconstruction of schools and churches in 1997. The reconstruction of infrastructure began systematically even during the war in areas where it was partially or completely destroyed. This included 625 kilometres of railway, over 5,400 km of roads, over 30 per cent of the electrical power system, the telecommunication lines, water supply system etc. Economy suffered enormous damage and only direct damage has been estimated at US$3 million. The renewal of economy to date has been concentrated on the restructuring and physical reconstruction of damaged or destroyed capacities, and the renewal of family businesses and agricultural homesteads, production and business dealings. The Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development has drawn up individual plans for stimulating reconstruction and economical renewal of war-ravaged areas. In the period from 1992 to the end of August 1997, the Bank granted credits of US$519,000. The money was partially set aside from the government budget and international sources. (hina) lm 081817 MET feb 98