LOVAS INCLUDED IN USAID RETURN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

( Editorial: --> 6966 ) LOVAS, July 10 (Hina) - The municipality of Lovas in Vukovar County has been included in the US Return Assistance Programme, which means it will receive between US$300,000 and $500,000 for various purposes during this and next year. The amount of aid will depend on the number of returnees. The programme was devised by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which this year has set aside a total of US$13.7 million for returnee municipalities. The programme is carried out by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The contract on Lovas' joining the programme was signed today by Lovas municipal head Zeljko Cirba and the head of the IOM Mission in Croatia, Jacques Schutjes. The programme also includes the municipalities of Darda and Knezevi Vinogradi on the basis of Croat-Serb cooperation in peaceful reintegration in the Baranja region. Lovas will use the aid to build a day care centre, improve communal standards and give loans to small business entrepreneurs. Cirba thanked the donors and stressed the good cooperation between Croats and Serbs in Lovas in improving conditions for the normal living of all residents. Schutjes and USAID representative for Croatia Skip Kissinger stressed that the leadership of Lovas was determined to carry out these plans. The signing of the contract was also attended by a USAID representative from Washington, Ann Convery. (hina) rml /mbr 101828 MET jul 98