CROATIA EXPECTS AID FOR WATERWORKS IN EASTERN SLAVONIA

( Editorial: --> 8602 ) DJAKOVO, March 10 (Hina)- Deputy PM and Minister of Reconstruction and Development Jure Radic chaired a meeting today in the village of Konrdic near Djakovo (about 200 km East of Zagreb) of a task force for the construction of waterworks in eastern Slavonia. The $US65 million project, due to be completed around the year 2,000, will ensure normal supply of high quality drinkable water for the Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem counties. So far preparations for the largest waterworks project in Croatia, which conforms to global and European standards, have been proceeding according to schedule. Parts of the project will be presented in May at a donors' conference for reconstruction of Croatia in order to be listed amongst the projects that will require aid from the international community, said Minister Radic. The waterworks program in eastern Slavonia will be supplemented with plans for reconstruction of waterworks in Vukovar. Presently the project organisers need another $US890,000 to be able to launch the construction, the funds they will try to borrow from commercial banks, said general manager of the Croatian Waters company Stjepan Sturlan. (Hina)mm mr-mrb . 101855 MET mar 98