CROATIAN COUNTIES SIGN CONTRACTS FOR VUKOVAR RECONSTRUCTION

ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - Contracts obliging each Croatian county to reconstruct one facility in Vukovar, were signed in Zagreb on Thursday in the presence of President Franjo Tudjman who had initiated this act of solidarity during his visit to this eastern city on 8 June this year. Contracts, worth 111.5 million kuna (approximately US$ 18 million dollars) were signed by Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic on behalf of the Croatian Government and by all county prefects and Zagreb Mayor. Tudjman said that the signing of reconstruction contracts paved the way to the restoration of normal living conditions in Vukovar. The whole of Croatia would be included in that reconstruction, the President said and congratulated Zagreb Mayor and county prefects as well as Minister Radic on signed contracts and projects. He called on prefects and the mayor to speed up implementation of agreements and explained that the reconstruction of war-damaged buildings and facilities in Vukovar would lead up to creation of conditions for normal life, restoration of Croatian rule and for the return of the displaced. Tudjman emphasised that the signed contracts showed the resoluteness of the independent and democratic Croatia to do its utmost to return life back to normal in Vukovar, a symbol of Croatia's struggle for freedom and independence, and they also testified to resoluteness of the entire Croatia to ensure normal living conditions for all its citizens including Serb ethnic community members who stay in that (eastern) area and recognise Croatia as their homeland. The guardian of the state seal, Ivan Milas, reiterated that the contracts were signed according to the initiative President Tudjman launched during his visit to Vukovar when he travelled to that city by Freedom Train this June. President Tudjman then called on counties' and Zagreb authorities to renovate buildings of social and cultural importance in that war-ravaged city, and all counties and the city of Zagreb responded to the appeal, Milas added. Under the 15 million kuna (US$ 2.4million) contract, the city of Zagreb will finance the reconstruction of Vukovar grammar school. The county of Zagreb will earmark 11 million kuna (US$ 1.7 million) for restoration of the Church of St. Philip and Jacob and the Franciscan monastery. Krapina-Zagorje County is expected to allocate 5 million kuna (US$ 0.8 million) for the reconstruction of the central kindergarten in Borovo Naselje. Sisak-Moslavina County has committed itself to financing the renovation of the hospital's pulmonary ward with 2.5 million kuna (U.S.$ 0.4 million). Under the contract, Karlovac County will help reconstruct the Borovo Naselje primary school with 3 million kuna (U.S.$ 0.5 million). The "Vladimir Nazor" primary school will be renovated by Varazdin County which should allocate 6 million kuna (approximately U.S. $ 1 million) for this purpose. Under the 6 million kuna (U.S.$ 1 million) contract Koprivnica-Krizevci County will renovate the Croatian community centre. Bjelovar-Bilogora County is to earmark 5.5 million kuna (U.S.$ 0.88 million) for reconstruction a school in Vukovar. Promorje-Gorski Kotar County will ensure 9.5 million kuna (U.S.$ 1.5 million) for renovation of the Borovo sports hall. Lika-Senj County is expected to ensure 2.5 million kuna (U:S.$ 0.4 million) for reconstruction of children's health clinic in Vukovar. Virovitica-Podravina County will earmark 3 million kuna (U.S.$ 0.5 million) for reconstruction of the Borovo swimming pool. Pozega-Slavonia County will give 4 million kuna (U.S. 0.65 million) for renovation of a kindergarten in Vukovar. The reconstruction of the railway station in Vukovar will be financed with 3 million kuna (U.S.$ 0.5 million) from Slavonski Brod-Posavina County. Under the 3 million kuna (U.S $ 0.5 million) contract, Zadar County will renovate the water tower. Osijek-Baranja County will earmark 2 million kuna (U.S. $0.32 million) for reconstruction of the employment bureau. The Church of St. Rok will be renovated by Sibenik- Knin County which should allocate 2.5 million kuna (U.S.$ 0.4 million) for this purpose. Vukovar-Sirmium County will give 2 million kuna ($ 0.32 million) for reconstruction of the retirement home. Under the 8 million kuna (U.S.$ 1.3 million) Split- Dalmatia County will renovate the Vukovar County administration building. Istrian County will also earmark 8 million kuna for renovation of a primary school in Vukovar. Dubrovnik-Neretva County will ensure 3 million kuna ($ 0.5 million) for renovation of the school of the economics. Medjimurje County will provide 7 million kuna (U.S.$ 1.1 million) for renovation of the Hungarian school. Present at the Zagreb signing ceremony were senior Croatian officials and a Croatian Serb leader and a member of the Croatian upper house, Vojislav Stanimirovic. (hina) mš 021424 MET oct 97