SIT 9 billion to Help Earthquake-Stricken Posočje

Bovec, 18 May - GOVERNMENT/BILL/EARTHQUAKE
The government passed Monday a bill to reconstruct and revive the Posočje region, stricken by a severe earthquake on 12 April. While the bill will be sent to parliament for fast-track adoption, the National Assembly is likely to endorse it at its next session, Premier Janez Drnovšek announced. The state plans to provide SIT 5 billion for Posočje in 1997, and additional SIT 4 billion next year (a total of some US$ 54.5 million).