Despite the financial crisis, the construction of the Pelješac Bridge will continue in 2009, but instead of the planned 500 million kuna from the budget, 300 million will be allocated, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader stated today in the Croatian Parliament.
"The bridge is moving forward, but its completion is being postponed," the Prime Minister said in a parliamentary debate on the Government’s proposal for the state budget for the next year, responding to Damir Kajin who, on behalf of the IDS Club, objected that such an expensive and non-priority project should be postponed due to the crisis."The Pelješac Bridge is a matter of Croatian national pride, it has exceptional political, national, and every other importance," Sanader said, emphasizing that the Government will not and cannot allow citizens to have to go through the territory of another state to get from one part of their country to another.
Kajin accused the Government in the debate of shortchanging Istria with the proposed budget for 2009, claiming that it is again guided solely by political aspects, planning investments only in areas governed by the ruling coalition parties."The best ‘new deal’ would be new elections," said the IDS representative. Sanader dismissed his accusations, emphasizing that all Croatian regions are equally important to the Government and the ruling coalition, regardless of who is in power."Istria has received much more support in the last five years than all previous governments," the Prime Minister said. A full-day debate is expected on the proposal for the state budget for 2009, as in addition to all clubs currently expressing their views on the budget, 60 representatives have also registered for the debate this morning. (H)
