RADIC RECEIVES EUROPEAN COMMISSION OFFICIAL VINTHER

ZAGREB, 27 June (Hina) - The Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic on Friday received Per Vinther, special envoy of the European Commission in Croatia, the Reconstruction and Development Ministry said in a statement today. #L# The two officials discussed the possibility of cooperation in the reconstruction of houses and community facilities. Vinther proposed that the European Commission provide assistance in cooperation with other international organisations in the reconstruction of houses and other facilities in western Slavonia, with the aim of speeding up the two-way return of displaced people and refugees, in line with an agreement signed between the Croatian Government on one side and the U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) and U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on the other. Radic accepted Vinther's proposal, stressing that international assistance should be provided in cooperation with the Croatian Government and its law on reconstruction, so that the standards which are already being applied in the reconstruction of houses, community buildings and infrastructure, could be followed. The two officials also agreed to define which towns and facilities would be reconstructed on the basis of the newly-established cooperation. (hina) rm 271240 MET jun 97