AMERICAN AMBASSADOR OPENS FLAG-PROGRAMME OFFICE IN PETRINJA

( Editorial: --> 2276 ) PETRINJA, Sept 22 (Hina) - A regional office of the Flag-programme was opened in Petrinja, 60km south-east of Zagreb, on Tuesday. The programme is involved with expert advice with regard to increasing employment opportunities. The main objective of the Flag programme, which is completely subsidised by the U.S. Agency for International Development, is to increase employment opportunities and motivate small businesses, with the aim of advancing Croatian regions formerly occupied by the Serbs. The Petrinja-based office will use the experiences of the Delaware University from the U.S. to provide expert assistance to and advice for small and medium-sized businesses in war-ravaged regions. The office was opened by U.S. Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery, who said Petrinja had been chosen as the headquarters of the programme because of the will and appropriate attitude local authorities have shown towards reconciliation and coexistence. The town of Petrinja has a population of 22,000, of whom 3,000 are Serbs and 3,000 Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina. They are all burdened by the war aftermath, the reconstruction of 12,000 destroyed houses and economic buildings, a huge mine- infested area, and a high unemployment rate. During his visit to Banovina, Montgomery spoke in Jabukovac with Croats from Bosnia, with Serb returnees in Dremusnjak, and in Gore with Croats still waiting to return to their pre-war villages, which are still to be cleared of mines. (hina) sp jn/ha 221741 MET sep 98