U.S. LAUNCHES AID PROGRAMME FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - The United States embassy in Zagreb, acting through the US Agency for International Development, has initiated a programme of assistance to city governments in Croatia, the embassy said in a statement on Monday. The programme provides for technical assistance and training to help city authorities "find solutions to priority problems in municipal finance, budgeting and housing management." It also envisages cooperation with towns in Slavonia "to promote reintegration and economic development as the economy recovers from the war years." The first activity will be to bring Croatian professionals together with their colleagues from 15 countries. Representatives of six cities and the national government will attend an international conference on local self-government in Sofia on December 10-12. The Croatian delegation will include representatives of Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Osijek, Varazdin and Vinkovci, as well as the Ministry of Administration. (hina) vm mm 091625 MET dec 96