PREFECT KOENING SPEAKS OF DONORS CONFERENCE RESULTS

VINKOVCI, Dec 7 (Hina) - Results of the reconstruction and development conference have met our realistic expectations and we can be satisfied with the interest by international representatives and other interested parties to invest in reconstruction projects in the Vukovar-Srijem county, the county's prefect Rudolf Koening told a press conference on Monday. The Vukovar-Srijem county presented about 200 projects valued at $US750 million, and it would not be realistic to expect donors to make concrete pledges before they have seriously analysed and earmarked the projects, said Koening. He said that the Vukovar-Srijem county should be satisfied with concrete offers for, according to Koening, most of the donations would be directed to the Croatian Danube River region. Koening expressed satisfaction that donors particularly directed their attention to mine clearing which, Koening believes, is one of the county's most serious problems. One of the most interesting and most valuable offers was the one made by the Bavarian Government, which expressed interest for investing about DM600 million in construction a multipurpose channel along the Danube-Sava rivers. Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic said that the construction of the channel is to start in the Spring of 1999. (hina) it/sp