ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development +Minister Jure Radic and Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency Ante +Jelavic signed on Monday in Zagreb an agreement according to which +Croatia would donate
construction material for the reconstruction +of 1,200 Croatian houses in Bosnia-Herzegovina.+ The donation would initial the return of displaced Croats to +Bosnia.+ Bosnia is also a country of Croatian people and Croats would +consider Bosnia their Homeland, if allowed to return, Radic told +reporters after the signing of the agreement. + The donation, approximately amounting US$8 million, would be +financed from shares of certain construction companies appointed +by the Croatian Government, Radic said and added that the +assistance for Bosnian Croats would not come from the Croatian +State Budget.+ "This latest agreement is...the strongest message to Bosnian +Cr
ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development
Minister Jure Radic and Croat member of the Bosnian Presidency Ante
Jelavic signed on Monday in Zagreb an agreement according to which
Croatia would donate construction material for the reconstruction
of 1,200 Croatian houses in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The donation would initial the return of displaced Croats to
Bosnia.
Bosnia is also a country of Croatian people and Croats would
consider Bosnia their Homeland, if allowed to return, Radic told
reporters after the signing of the agreement.
The donation, approximately amounting US$8 million, would be
financed from shares of certain construction companies appointed
by the Croatian Government, Radic said and added that the
assistance for Bosnian Croats would not come from the Croatian
State Budget.
"This latest agreement is...the strongest message to Bosnian
Croats saying that Croatia continues to care for insuring the
survival of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina", Jelavic
said.
He said that half of the materials would be donated to Central-
Bosnian and Zepce cantons which demonstrated a wish of the Bosnian
Croat leadership for Croats to return to the Central Bosnia.
"Without the return of Croat people to the Central-Bosnia, there is
no Bosnia as defined by the Dayton Agreement", Jelavic noted.
The Agreement was also signed by the Bosnian Federation vice
president, Ivo Andric-Luzanski.
Jelavic said that so far no significant results were achieved
considering the return of Croats, particularly to Bugojno, Travnik
and Sarajevo, in Central Bosnia.
He expressed hope that 1999 would be the year of return of displaced
Croats, particularly to the areas of Sarajevo, Travnik, and
Bugojno.
We believe that Sarajevo should be an example of a multiethnic city
and coexistance...and that the Sarajevo Declaration would be
implemented", Jelavic said.
The entire material will be transported by the Croatian Army in
3,200 tow-trucks.
Between 1994 and 1998 Croatia had financed reconstruction of 2,500
homes in Bosnia, which resulted in the return and accommodation of
10,000 displaced Croats.
By the summer of 1999, Croatia will reconstruct 3,700 houses, which
will help the return of 14,000 Croats.
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