US AMBASSADOR MONTGOMERY TO VISIT DANUBE RIVER REGION MONDAY

( Editorial: --> 9365 ) ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - US Ambassador William Montgomery will visit the Croatian Danube River region on Monday. Montgomery will be accompanied by the Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic. The two officials will visit Beli Manastir, Laslovo and Darda, so that the US Ambassador could get acquainted with needs in the process of reconstruction and reconciliation in Croatia, the US Embassy in Zagreb said in a statement on Saturday. Montgomery and Radic will in Darda attend the signing of the first partnership agreement achieved within a programme for assistance in the return process, which is financed by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The programme for assistance in the return process is part of continual US efforts aimed at assisting the Croatian people in rebuilding and reintegrating their country. The programme is worth US $13.5 million and is carried out by the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM), which helps people in war- affected municipalities to reconstruct their destroyed communities. Darda was chosen because its municipal leaders demonstrated commitment to the return and reintegration of all members of the community, the statement said. (hina) rml 061341 MET jun 98