MOSTAR ALUMINUM PLANT OFFICIALLY OPENED

MOSTAR, 23 Aug (Hina) - The aluminum plant of the aluminum company "Mostar" was officially opened on Saturday. The opening ceremony was attended by numerous public and military representatives, and church dignitaries, including Federation President Vladimir Soljic, co-chairman of the Bosnian Council of Ministers Neven Tomic, Mostar mayor Ivan Prskalo and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Prefect Ivan Bender. A Croatian state delegation attending the ceremony included a presidential advisor on economy and representative of President Franjo Tudjman, Pero Jurkovic, advisor on interior affairs Ivic Pasalic, Economy Minister Nenad Porges, Privatisation Minister Milan Kovac, Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic, the president of the Parliament committee for finances and state budget, Juraj Njavro, Croatia's consul general in Mostar Ciro Grubisic and Dubrovnik County Prefect Jure Buric. Present at the ceremony were also a former European Union administrator of Mostar, Ricardo Perez Casado, the head of the regional office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Edward Joseph, and international business partners of Mostar Aluminum Company. Greeting the gathered, the general director of Mostar Aluminum Company Mijo Brajkovic said that aluminum production opened new possibilities for the town and the region. More than 450 workers are employed with the company, he said, adding that the company would employ a total of more than 3,000 workers. Brajkovic thanked the Croatian government for help. He also thanked the Spanish government, which invested around one million dollars into the company. (hina) rm 231643 MET aug 97