ONE BILLION KUNA TO BE SET ASIDE FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES

( Editorial: --> 5820 ) OSIJEK, 20 Jan (Hina) - One billion kuna (some US$150 million) has been set aside from this year's state budget for the reconstruction of the Croatian Danube River region. The money will be used for the repair of 3,500 houses which belong to damage categories between IV and VI, the head of the Reconstruction and Development Ministry's Reconstruction Administration, Ljudevit Herceg, said in Osijek Tuesday. The money will also be used for the reconstruction of some 5,000 to 6,000 houses belonging to the I to III damage categories. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the administrative board of the Osijek-Baranja Returnees' Association, Herceg said that the stalemate in the reconstruction was caused by the slow issuing of reconstruction documents, since authorised county offices were not ready to issue a large number of reconstruction documents in a short period of time. Nevertheless, the situation is improving and the accelerated reconstruction of houses between I and III damage categories will start next week, Herceg said. The accelerated reconstruction of houses with higher damage degrees is expected to start in spring. (hina) mm rm 201427 MET jan 98