OBROVAC AND IOM SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT FOR RETURN

( Editorial: --> 2891 ) OBROVAC, Aug 10 (Hina) - A cooperation agreement was signed on Monday between the Town of Obrovac and the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM). The agreement will include Obrovac in the IOM's Return Assistance Programme which is financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The programme assists towns and municipalities in creating favourable conditions for the return of all people to their homes in Croatia's war affected areas, such as through the completion of community and infrastructure projects. The IOM implements the programme in cooperation with local authorities and it has four regional offices in Croatia - Knin, Daruvar, Glina and Osijek. Today's agreement was signed by Obrovac Mayor Ante Zupan and IOM coordinator Steve Wetcamb in the presence of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representatives and American Ambassador William Montgomery's special envoy Charles Enenson. Wetcambe thanked Zupan for the good cooperation and expressed hope in the quicker revival of the Obrovac area. Enenson said the US government had set aside about $1 million for the project, and that Obrovac would be one of the first areas in Croatia in which the project would be carried out. (Hina) mbr/rml 101801 MET aug 98