CROATS FROM SWITZERLAND HELP VUKOVAR'S RECONSTRUCTION

( Editorial: --> 3498 ) ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - Reconstruction of Vukovar's Pension and Invalid Insurance Fund building worth one million German marks will be financed by the Switzerland branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). An agreement on the reconstruction was signed in Zagreb on Friday by Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic and the Swiss HDZ president Vinko Sabljo. This was the first donation agreement the Reconstruction and Development Ministry signed with an emigrant Croatian association, or a HDZ branch abroad. The agreement allows the Ministry to draw up design plans and carry out inspection and reconstruction. Reconstruction of the building should by finished by spring next year, when the Swiss HDZ's 10th annual assembly will be held in Vukovar. Sabljo said the money was not only collected by members of the political party, but other Croat associations and individuals in Switzerland. (Hina) jn mb 201816 MET feb 98