MOST MINES IN CROATIA LAID IN VUKOVAR COUNTY - BARIC

VINKOVCI, Feb 21 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Reconstruction and Development Ministry, Centre for the Removal of mines in the Croatian Danubian area and heads of the Vukovar County held talks about mine clearing in the Vukovar area, in the County's temporary centre in Vinkovci on Friday. Major General Slavko Baric said that the mine removal was that much difficult because Croatian experts were not allowed access to all plans of mine fields set by Serbs. He said that most mines in Croatia were in the Vukovar County, especially in the belt near Vinkovci (about 20 kilometres southwest of Vukovar), where they numbered more than 100,000. So, Baric said, most of the forces would be used in that area where six machines for removing mines will be used, out of a total of eight. Mines had been laid on about 76,000 hectares in the UNTAES-administered area, so its clearing would cost about 6.8 billion kuna (DM 1.88 billion) because the lowest price for mine clearing of one metre squared cost DM 2.5, Baric said. The State Budget envisaged 165 million kuna (DM 45.83 million) for mine removal, out of which most would be spent for clearing eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem of mines. Besides, we received a loan of US$ 30 million, Baric said. The plan for mine removal in the Vukovar County for 1997 envisaged that the first locations to be cleared of mines should be locations where displaced persons are to return. The first phase of mine removal has been completed in those areas (houses and yards) and the second phase has begun - mire clearing of infrastructure objects, gardens, fields and orchards. Baric said that a positive answer was expected from UNTAES so that mine removal could begin in Djeletovci, where Croatian oil company INA's oil wells are. The first phase of mine clearing should begin soon in some streets of Vinkovci and priorities are some transition lines and railways. (hina) lm jn 211830 MET feb 97