MOST FLATS IN EASTERN CROATIA TO BE RECONSTRUCTED NEXT YEAR

( Editorial: --> 7901 ) VUKOVAR, Dec 12 (Hina) - The reconstruction of eastern Croatia has in the second half of this year taken off, despite difficulties in its organisation due to problematic access to the area, Ivan Krstanovic, head of the Centre for the Reconstruction and Development of the Croatian Danube Region, Ivan Krstanovic, told the assembly of the Croatian Alliance of Construction Engineers in Vukovar on Friday. Some 15 per cent of necessary housing units, or some 4,000 flats, have been reconstructed, he said. The next two years should be a period of most intense reconstruction, to be completed in 2000, Krstanovic said. The reconstruction and development ministry should reconstruct 13,000 housing units in 1998, including 8,000 which suffered heavy damage, he added. Some 10,000 out of 16,000 pre-war housing units were demolished. About 1,000 flats should be reconstructed by year's end, Krstanovic said, adding 150 million kunas would be invested in the work. Speaking about a suggestion that every Croatian county reconstruct one major public building in Vukovar, Krstanovic said most of these buildings should be completed next year. (hina) ha mm 121517 MET dec 97