CRO AND EU SIGN AGREEMENT ON RECONSTRUCTION OF 13 MUNICIPALITIES

ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - The Croatian Public Works, Reconstruction and Building Ministry and representative of the European Union reconstruction for return programme on Wednesday signed an agreement on partnership in line with which the European Union donates DM25 million for the reconstruction of areas which suffered damage in the Homeland War in 13 Croatian municipalities. The reconstruction is to be conducted in the year 2000. The agreement was signed by Minister Radimir Cacic and representative of the Samaritan workers alliance (ASB/EC) Alfons Peeters. This ceremony is the best sign of the European Union's readiness to really help Croatia in solving this difficult problem of the return and reconstruction, Cacic said at the signing of the agreement. He called on representatives of counties and municipalities to cooperate. The European Union programme was made in cooperation with Croatian authorities, European Commission special envoy to Croatia Per Vinther said. The agreement offers reconstruction which is to the benefit of the entire community, and not only returnees and one ethnic group, Vinther said. The money will be used for the reconstruction of houses, public, economic, and social infrastructure and mine clearing. The European Union plans to complete the projects by mid 2001. The ASB, which is conducting the programme in Croatia under the mandate of the European Commission (EC), is a non-profit organisation from Germany. Since 1996, ASB/EC conducted reconstruction programmes worth EURO43.5 million in 18 Croatian municipalities. (hina) it jn