U.S. TO HELP IN RECONSTRUCTION OF EASTERN SLAVONIA

ZAGREB, June 3 (Hina) - Croatian deputy prime minister Ivica Kostovic met US deputy ambassador to Croatia Robert Finn in Zagreb on Monday for talks on US aid programs for reconstruction of the still occupied area of eastern Croatia. "America is among the countries that have approved aid funds and Croatia appreciates it," Kostovic told reporters after the talks. Kostovic stressed that it was necessary to respect priorities set by the Croatian government, including the reconstruction of the infrastructure and houses for returnees and projects for development of small businesses. We also dicussed the amnesty law and possibilities of giving legal counsel to the population in that area, Kostovic said. Speaking of the process of reintegration of the Eastern Slavonia region, Finn said that there were many problems but that they were not big ones. (hina) vm jn 031637 MET jun 96