EUROPEAN COMMISSION OPENS OFFICE IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Oct 17 (Hina) - The European Commission on Thursday opened an office for the reconstruction of the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar. The opening ceremony in Vukovar was attended by the Commission's special adviser in Croatia, Fulvio Paolini, UN Transitional Administrator General Jacques Klein, his adviser on reconstruction issues Didier Fava, and the head of the Croatian government office for the UN-administered area, Mirko Tankosic. The European Union had earmarked ECU 5 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure and housing in Vukovar, Fava said, adding that projects should be carried out according to international standards. Paolini said that all reconstruction projects drawn up by the European Commission would contribute to the economic revival of Eastern Slavonia and a swifter reintegration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem into Croatia's political and legal system. Klein said that he expected assistance from both sides, adding that he was planning to organize a conference of donors, including Russia, the United States and other Contact Group member states. After the opening ceremony, Tankosic refused to enter the office saying that the statements by the international officials conflicted with the views of the Croatian government. Tankosic told Croatian reporters that the government had not approved these projects because it had already drafted an urban development plan for Vukovar. Plans by the European Commission departed from criteria agreed upon with the Croatian government, he added. "They want to invest in a way which is unacceptable to Croatia. Our views are clear - we want the Croatian government to approve those projects," Tankosic said, stressing that the improvement of living conditions in the area was in Croatia's interest. "They want to execute those projects in their own way, without permission of the Croatian government," he said, adding that Mr Paolini had attended a government meeting and agreed with the Croatian criteria. Tankosic said that companies carrying out the projects should be registered with the Croatian Commercial Court. After Tankosic's statement, Klein told the Croatian reporters that he had approved the project. (hina) vm 172209 MET oct 96