DESPITE PROBLEMS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING - HORVAT

OSIJEK, 17 Sept (Hina) - Local administration in the U.N.- administered part of Osijek-Baranja County is functioning and all municipal heads from the region of Baranja and eastern Slavonia have started working in their offices in the region, Osijek-Baranja County Deputy Prefect Anica Horvat stated Wednesday. There are 13 municipalities and the town of Beli Manastir in the area. There are some difficulties in the organisation of work because municipal heads are still not living in places where they work, and because a large number of people who have started working in the administration bodies are not acquainted with Croatian laws, Horvat said. The first step to be made was their training in preparing and implementing Croatian laws, in registering municipalities and in opening drawing accounts. After the opening of a drawing account, the town of Beli Manastir was given first assets - 310,000 kuna for the payment of salaries and 103,000 kuna for public utilities needs, Horvat said. Municipalities in the area would depend on support from the state and county budgets until the end of the process, Horvat said. (hina) jn rm 171702 MET sep 97