FOREIGN AID REQUIRED FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF DANUBIAN AREA

( Editorial: --> 2268 ) OSIJEK, 16 Feb (Hina) - Members of the Article 11 Commission, set up to monitor the implementation of the Basic Agreement on the reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area, met the prefects of Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Sirmium counties. Parts of the territory of these counties had been under temporary UN administration until 15 January 1998. The aim of the meeting had been to "define the global problems connected to the departure of the UNTAES" and to determine the tasks of local self-government units in the two counties, Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Anica Horvat said after the meeting. "The meeting was very useful because we were able openly to show the Commission everything that we are facing in the implementation of the Government confidence-building programme," Prefect Horvat said. The meeting also suggested certain changes in the manner of the implementation of the two-way return process and stressed the need for assistance to Croatia in its endeavour to put the economy of the region back on its feet. Noting that the meeting acquainted the Commission with the problems connected with the return of displaced persons and the reconstruction of the economy, Vukovar-Srijem Prefect Rudolf Koenig said that the Croatian side believed that the reconstruction of the economy was a prerequisite for the return of displaced persons. He stressed that this would not be possible without international assistance. "The reconstruction of housing facilities is vital - people cannot live there unless they have their basic subsistence guaranteed," Koenig said. County representatives suggested the granting of favourable loans to promote self-employment and the development of small and medium- sized companies, and proposed that the idea be broached at a donors' conference, to be held this spring. The Article 11 Commission, named after Article 11 of the Basic Agreement on the Peaceful Reintegration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem, is made up of representatives of foreign embassies accredited to Croatia, the chief of the OSCE mission in Croatia, Tim Guldimann, UN Secretary General's envoy to Croatia Souren Seraydarian and the chief of the UNHCR mission to Croatia, Robert Robinson. (hina) jn as mb 161754 MET feb 98