ZUPANJA-ORASJE BRIDGE IMPORTANT FOR CRO-BH ECONOMIC COOPERATION - GREGURIC

GREGURIC ZUPANJA, June 14 (Hina) - Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday signed a contract on the reconstruction and building of a road bridge across the Sava river between Zupanja (Croatia) and Orasje (BH). The 55 million-kuna-worth project was ensured by the two countries via a World Bank credit, while work on the bridge should be completed in 18 months. This is the first of six destroyed border bridges between Croatia and BH across the Sava, the Croatian President's special envoy in BH, Franjo Greguric, told reporters, pointing out that the reconstruction is done to mutual interest and in order to make the traffic of people and goods possible. Economic cooperation is the "foundation of a speedier thawing out of the mistrust caused in war conditions on the territories of Croatia and BH", Greguric pointed out. "Economy cannot be strengthened if one must wait in a five- kilometre line with trucks and cars on both sides of the Sava river to (cross into the other country). It is no longer bearable and is a terrible damage to economy. That's why this bridge is the first step in the renewal of economic cooperation between BH and Croatia", said Greguric. Apart from the building of bridges, Croatia is, as concerns economic cooperation, also interested in power supply which, according to Greguric, is significant in the system of the two sovereign countries. Negotiations with BH leaders have already begun, he added. "We must immediately, and with no delays, start with the delivery of electric power, petroleum products and coal, to mutual interest, in order to employ people and offer more jobs", Greguric concluded. (hina) ha 142106 MET jun 97