IOM SATISFIED WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF RETURN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

( Editorial: --> 9430 ) ZAGREB, Sept 10 (Hina) - Representatives of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the implementation of its Return Assistance Programme (RAP) which now includes eight municipalities in Croatia. The Programme is carried out at the local level, where municipal officials propose projects which the IOM in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) finances, RAP coordinator Steve Weitkamp explained to a press conference in Zagreb. He said priority to enter the RAP was given to those municipalities carrying out the Croatian Government's Return Programme. The return programme started at the end of January. The programme foresees that the IOM will finance the development of infrastructure as well as the reconstruction and development of public facilities in certain municipalities amounting to a maximum of $10 million dollars in the next two years. The programme's objective is to realise the return of some 30,000 persons to at least 16 municipalities in Croatia, Weitkamp said. Currently the programme encompasses the municipalities of Darda, Novi Vinogradi, Lovas, Erdut, Lipik, Petrinja, Obrovac and Biskupija. Programmes are currently being planned for the municipalities of Dragalic, Karlovac, Donji Lapac, Topusko and Pakrac. The IOM employs Croatian companies for works required by the projects and closely works with the Reconstruction Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Croatia electricity supplier HEP and other large Croatian companies. (Hina) mbr jn /sp 101532 MET sep 98