OSIJEK, 21 Nov (Hina) - 'Important political questions' had to be solved prior to the stabilisation of Croatia's economy and the establishment of market in the Croatian Danubian area, said Ivica Vrkic, head of the Government Office
for the establishment of Croatian authority in the occupied Croatian areas.
OSIJEK, 21 Nov (Hina) - 'Important political questions' had to be
solved prior to the stabilisation of Croatia's economy and the
establishment of market in the Croatian Danubian area, said Ivica
Vrkic, head of the Government Office for the establishment of
Croatian authority in the occupied Croatian areas. #L#
Vrkic made this statement at a meeting with representatives of
the Osijek branch of the Croatian Employers' Association in Osijek
on Thursday. The talks focused on the process of peaceful
reintegration, economy in the U.N. administered area and possible
domestic and foreign investments in the reconstruction of the
Croatian Danubian area.
There had been no considerable progress in the economic part
of the reintegration process because the Serb side was still
demanding certain forms of autonomy, Vrkic said.
Speaking about a donors' conference, which is to be organised
by the U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia
(UNTAES) in Vukovar on 6 December, Vrkic reiterated Croatia's
stance that there can be no investments in the Croatian Danubian
area without the approval of Croatian authorities.
Josip Galic, head of the Office's Department for Economy,
Reconstruction and Public Companies, stressed that the main
priority of the Croatian side in the coming period was the removal
of mines from the whole U.N.-administered area. Without the removal
of mines, not one area of public and economic life could be
reconstructed, he said.
Croatian experts were still unable to assess war damage on
commercial facilities, such as the rubber and shoe factory 'Borovo'
and the food industry 'Belje'. Assessment is necessary if one is to
plan reconstruction and development of those companies, Galic said.
Galic reiterated that Serb companies from the area, which are
willing to participate in the reconstruction, must register with
the Osijek Commercial Court.
(hina) rm jn
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