DANUBE REGION MUNICIPALITY RECEIVES 875 000 DM IN AID FOR RENEWAL

( Editorial: --> 6257 ) KNEZEVI VINOGRADI, July 7 (Hina) - Representatives of Knezevi Vinogradi and the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM) signed an agreement on Tuesday to aid reconstruction and return in the Danube River region municipality. The agreement worth 875,000 German marks was financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of its Return Assistance Programme (RAP). Emphasising the reasons why the IOM had decided to help Knezevi Vinogradi, IOM mission to Croatia head Jacques Schutjes said how a multinational population lived in the municipality, and since the establishment of Croatian authority there had not been any problems. We want to assist in the building of infrastructure and small business and the development of democracy, Schutjes said. Before the war in 1991 Knezevi Vinogradi had a population of about 6,000 people comprising 40 per cent Hungarians, 26 per cent Croats, 21 per cent Serbs and 13 per cent others. But so far only 437 people, mostly Hungarians, had returned to the municipality in the north of Croatia's eastern region of Baranja. Municipal head Kresimir Kramaric said it was expected about another 1,000 people would be returning, which would at any rate fast-track the establishment of conditions for work and living. (Hina) mbr jn 072255 MET jul 98