BUILDING OF ZAGREB-DUBROVNIK MOTORWAY'S 1ST SECTION STARTS SPRING

( Editorial: --> 1735 ) ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic Friday announced the arrival of representatives of the U.S. Bechtel construction corporation. They will agree with Croatian experts on details of a contract on the building of the first section of the Zagreb-Bihac-Dubrovnik motorway. "If we adjust prices, the building of the first section could begin in April or May", Radic told reporters in Zagreb. The first section would run from Croatia's border with Slovenia, in the north-west, to Zagreb. The total length of the motorway section from the Croatian-Slovene to the Croatian-Bosnian border is 120 kilometres, and its value is estimated at US$600 million. In the meantime, the precise route of the motorway through Bosnia- Herzegovina to the Bosnian-Croatian border in the south has yet to be determined, the minister said. The building of the motorway to the southern Croatian port of Dubrovnik, via BH, does not exclude the building of a motorway which would connect northern and southern Croatia across Croatian territory, Radic continued. This project is being worked on, and an international soliciting for tenders for building this section of the motorway is nearing end, Radic added. Bechtel was included in the project because of the highest quality influx of capital and U.S. economy, the minister said, pointing out the U.S. corporation could ensure favourable loans. The U.S. export credit in the project is evaluated at US$250 million, Radic pointed out. According to the contract, half the whole activity would be carried out by Croatian companies. (hina) ha jn 131715 MET feb 98