ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - The conference on the reconstruction and +development of Croatia was an important step in ensuring +international assistance necessary for the reconstruction, +Ministers Mate Granic and Jure Radic said on
Saturday.+ Croatia made a commitment to implement the reconstruction on an +entirely non-discriminatory basis for all citizens, the two +ministers, chairmen of the two-day international donors' +conference in Zagreb which closed today, said in their final +address.+ Reconstruction and Development Minister Radic thanked all +participants who on behalf of their governments promised concrete +assistance to the Croatian government's refugee return programme.+ The Croatian government would enable all Croatian citizens to +return, and would also assist Bosnian exiles who want to stay in +Croatia, he said.+ The government would "thoroughly respect private property," added
ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - The conference on the reconstruction and
development of Croatia was an important step in ensuring
international assistance necessary for the reconstruction,
Ministers Mate Granic and Jure Radic said on Saturday.
Croatia made a commitment to implement the reconstruction on an
entirely non-discriminatory basis for all citizens, the two
ministers, chairmen of the two-day international donors'
conference in Zagreb which closed today, said in their final
address.
Reconstruction and Development Minister Radic thanked all
participants who on behalf of their governments promised concrete
assistance to the Croatian government's refugee return programme.
The Croatian government would enable all Croatian citizens to
return, and would also assist Bosnian exiles who want to stay in
Croatia, he said.
The government would "thoroughly respect private property," added
Radic, but pointed out some suggestions made at the conference,
particularly with regard to guaranteeing tenancy rights, were
unacceptable. Tenancy rights represented a "long since discarded,
purely communist category," he said.
A great interest was shown during bilateral contacts for some
projects Croatia put forward.
Radic said Croatia accepted Bavaria's proposal to "close the
financial construction" of a Danube-Sava river canal project via a
joint Bavarian-Croatian consortium.
Foreign Minister Granic recalled the war damage in Croatia, which
claimed 13,583 either killed or missing, and 37,180 wounded
persons, was estimated in excess of US$50 billion.
The government wished to ensure a sustainable, non-discriminatory,
socially economic reintegration of some 240,000 returnees in
Croatia and exiles who are still out of the country, said Granic.
He pointed out in this respect it was necessary to reconstruct
80,000 housing units, requiring US$2.5 billion.
The mine-clearing issue was given special emphasis at the
conference, and many participants were interested and announced
assistance.
Granic stressed unexploded mines represented a long-term obstacle
to refugee return, and a standing threat to the safety of people.
At the conference, Croatia "pointed out to its willingness to
cooperate and for partnership with the international community in
the active implementation of the reconstruction and development
programme. In 1999 Croatia will consider the concrete
implementation of the programme in view of the conference," said
the Foreign Minister.
(hina) ha jn