ILOK AUTHORITIES PREPARE SET OF ECONOMIC REHABILITATION MEASURES

( Editorial: --> 8936 ) ILOK, Sept 8 (Hina) - A meeting on a set of measures for the revival of the local economy in Ilok was held in Croatia's eastern-most town on Tuesday. Attending the meeting were the top officials from the Vukovar- Srijem County, government officials, and the president of the National Trust Establishment Committee, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt. "The functioning of every company in this area is of strategic interest for the state," Skare-Ozbolt said. The government will further stimulate the activity of economic subjects and thus contribute to the resolution of other problems in eastern Croatia, mainly the return of displaced persons and refugees and the reconstruction, she added. Speaking about the economic situation, Ilok Mayor Stipan Kraljevic said that before the Serbian aggression on Croatia, Ilok had 2,500 employees, whereas only 550 were working at the moment. Many however do not receive regular salaries, he pointed out. About 1,100 families have returned to Ilok so far, and many are faced with difficult living conditions, the Mayor said. Today the town's authorities presented a set of measures for the financial rehabilitation of Ilok companies. The total debt of these companies amounts to US$6.6 million, the councillors said, emphasising rehabilitation was urgently needed in order to commence production. County Prefect Rudolf Koenig urged an accelerated privatisation of companies in eastern Croatia. It would help in separating successful economic subjects from unsuccessful ones, and in determining the exact necessities and possibilities of market survival for every company, he said. Koening also pointed out that a law on areas of special government care, areas formerly under Serbian occupation, was not functioning at all. The plans of Ilok's businessmen were supported by the head of the Croatian Privatisation Fund, Tomislav Druzak. Skare-Ozbolt said Ilok should get a new town advancement plan. A meeting similar to the one held in Ilok will soon take place in Vukovar, she added. Later the participants in the meeting visited Ilok's companies. (hina) ha jn/mbr 081655 MET sep 98