WORK BEGINS ON PREPARING SPLIT SITE FOR POPE'S VISIT

( Editorial: --> 6235 ) SPLIT, July 7 (Hina) - Works have started in the southern Croatian city of Split on the site where in October Pope John Paul II is scheduled to lead a mass during his second visit to the country. Croatian Army engineering units have begun preparing the beach at Znjan, where the Pope is to conduct the sermon. In the coming 50 days 200,000 square metres of available space will be prepared and three access roads will be built, as well as facilities necessary for the gathering of a great number of people. About 300,000 believers from the central Dalmatia region and from Bosnia-Herzegovina are expected to convene at Znjan. (Hina) jfk jn /mbr 071906 MET jul 98