CRO AMBASSADOR SIGNS LOAN AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK

( Editorial: --> 9084 ) WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador to the United States Miomir Zuzul on Tuesday signed an agreement with the World Bank on a loan for a project of reconstruction of the Croatian Danube River Region. The intention of the agreement, signed also by World bank's director for Croatia and Albania, Arntraud Hartmann, is to provide US$40 million for the reconstruction of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem, that had been ravaged by war. The World Bank's Board of Governors approved the loan this June. Another signatory to the agreement was also the director of Croatia's public company "Hrvatske Vode", Stjepan Sturlan. Hartmann said in Washington on Tuesday that she was convinced, having visited Croatia, that the World Bank and Croatia had done the right thing by initiating this project. "The project of reconstruction of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem, besides undoubting economical significance, bears political significance," Zuzul said. He stressed it was important for the international community to also get involved into the economic reconstruction of the region. Sturlan stressed the loan would enable the reconstruction of the waterworks in eastern Slavonia and "create conditions for the return, stay and improvement of life conditions of residents". The above mentioned loan is half of the total amount granted for the reconstruction of the Danubian region. The project also includes the construction and mine clearance of flood control and drainage systems in an area of 155,000 hectares. The loan will also enable an ecological management of the Kopacki Rit national park, and the reconstruction of the drainage system in Vinkovci. The World Bank has so far granted loans of a total of US$620 million to Croatia. (hina) lml 091050 MET sep 98