Vanđelic: Reconstruction of Zagreb should be efficient and transparent

(Hina) - Newly-appointed acting director of the Reconstruction Fund, Damir Vanđelic on Thursday underlined that it was both in the public and his personal interest that the quake-damaged buildings in Zagreb and its environs be reconstructed efficiently, fast and transparently.

"Apart from that being in public interest, as someone who was born and educated in Zagreb, I have a personal interest for that to be done just as it has been said: in en efficiently, fast and transparent manner," Vandjelic said during the signing ceremony of an agreement between the government, City of Zagreb, Krapina-Zagorje County and Zagreb County for the establishment of the fund for the reconstruction of Zagreb and its environs.

Vandjelic thanked for the trust placed in him and his ability to head the fund, recalling that the 22 March earthquake damaged about 26,000 buildings. He added that now activities and preparations will follow so that the fund can become operational.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that the establishment of the fund marks the formal start of Zagreb's reconstruction after the earthquake.

"We want to help our citizens, all those who were affected as a consequence of the earthquake and whose lives changed on March 22. We also want to care for Zagreb and its cultural and historical features, particularly the city's old centre and to preserve its historical style and urban character," Plenkovic underscored.

The agreement was signed by Minister Horvat, Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, Krapina-Zagorje County Prefect Zeljko Kolar and Zagreb County Prefect Stjepan Kozic.

"With the signing of this agreement, all the conditions have been created to start with reconstruction and I trust that in a very short time we will see reconstruction in the field the way we envisaged it in the law and the agreement to establish this fund," Zagreb County Prefect Kozic said.

He added that damage caused by the earthquake in Zagreb County was estimated at about HRK 500 million for about 500 buildings mostly public purpose buildings adding that so far the county had invested about HRK 2.6 million in reconstruction, mostly of schools.

Krapina-Zagorje County Prefect Kolar underlined that this is just the beginning of the work that will follow even though a great deal has already been done in preparing the law and establishing the fund.

The damage in that county is estimated at about HRK 75 million for about 53 building that are out of use and 28 buildings will need to be demolished and rebuilt. About HRK 19 million is required for worship sites and public purpose buildings, he said.

The agreement specifies that the founder of the Fund is the Republic of Croatia with a share of 70%, City of Zagreb (20%), the Krapina-Zagorje and Zagreb counties with a share of 5% each.

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