CROATIAN AMBASSADOR SIGNS $102 MILLION ROAD RECONSTRUCTION LOAN

WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (Hina) - Croatia's ambassador to the United States, Miomir Zuzul, and the director of the World Bank's department for Europe, Jean-Michel Severino, signed in Washington on Wednesday a USD 102 million loan agreement on the reconstruction of road infrastructure and mine clearance in Croatia, the Croatian embassy said in a statement. Severino said that the World Bank and Croatia had good relations, adding that several loans had already been granted and that new ones were in preparation. Severino announced that the World Bank would soon open its office in Croatia. Zuzul emphasized the political importance of the project because financial support would be given to those elements which were essential to the implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The loan, approved by the bank's board of directors on November 21, focused on investments of joint interest to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The loan followed agreements on the use of the port of Ploce and on Neum, as well as an agreement on the reconstruction of the Zupanja-Orasje bridge, which had been signed earlier this year by Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Zuzul said that the relations between Croatia and the World Bank confirmed the readiness of the international community to support Croatia, democratization processes and its integration into Western economic and political structures. (hina) vm 051020 MET dec 96