EUROPEAN COMMISSION GRANTS MILLION ECU FOR DEMINING OF CROATIA

ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - The European Commission has granted one million ECU of assistance for the demining of Croatia, as part of projects being financed by the European Union, European Commission special envoy's office in Zagreb said Thursday. The aim of this direct assistance is to make possible the mine- clearing of homes, yards and the infrastructure, as predicted by the Reconstruction for Return programme for 1998 which is financed by the EU. The European Commission announced at the Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Croatia held in Zagreb on December 4 and 5, to grant 15 million ECU for existing programmes for Croatia for next year, and an additional million ECU for demining programmes. This decision has been reached on December 14. The most recent financial assistance is a part of wider European Commission's demining programmes, whose goal is for Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to develop their own capabilities to clear mines and explosive devices in order to remove obstacles for the safe return of refugees and displaced persons. The total amount of assistance provided to Croatia by the European Commission is 335 million ECU. (hina) lml mm