OSIJEK-BELI MANSTIR RAILROAD TO REOPEN

OSIJEK, Aug 4 (Hina) - Railroad passenger transport between Osijek (eastern Croatia) and Beli Manastir (UN-administered region of eastern Croatia) would be re-established this week after almost six years, Ivica Juric, a Croatian Railways representative, said in Osijek on Monday, adding the exact day would be set after consultations with UNTAES. Trains would leave Osijek thrice a day, Juric told reporters, adding that passengers travelling to the Danube region must have a sponsor. Railway stations in Darda, Ceminac and Beli Manastir will give work to Croatian Railways employees with the displaced person status and employees from the Danube region who during the peaceful reintegration process signed work contracts. After transport on the Osijek-Beli Manastir was stopped on 19 August 1991, damage caused to the railroad amounted to about USD 1.6 million, Juric said, while total damage on 212 km of railroads in the Croatian Danube region were estimated to about USD 41.2 million. Croatian Railways to date invested about USD 5.4 million in railroad reconstruction in the Danube region, he added. After the press conference, journalists travelled along the Osijek-Beli Manastir railroad in a trial train. (hina) ha jn 041918 MET aug 97