PM - GOVT TO DISCUSS CORRIDOR VC TOMORROW

ZAGREB, Aug 20 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Wednesday the government will tomorrow formulate the text of a letter of intent on Croatia's participation in the construction of the Vc corridor through Bosnia-Herzegovina. #L# "By doing this we express confidence that relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are good and in the interest of people living in both countries," Racan said. The highway on corridor Vc is important both for Bosnia and for Croatia, Racan said, adding Croatia was interested in seeing the road constructed as soon and as good as possible. The government should tomorrow formulate the text of the letter of intent which stresses that it is important to prepare project documentation necessary for the invitation of international tenders for the construction of the highway, he said. The premier assessed that between seven and nine million US dollars would be needed for preparations. "Croatia is prepared to finance the preparations in this amount on the condition that an international tender is called," he said. He added Croatia was prepared to do so notwithstanding of whether Croatian companies would get the job or not. The government will encourage Croatian companies to enter bids and expects the best bidder to get the job at the tender. The premier declined to comment on how and on what grounds the joint Bosnian-Malaysian company, Bosmal, was supposed to construct the highway on corridor Vc. Bosnian bodies can choose other solutions for which they must bear the consequences, he said. "We shall see what Bosnia and its ruling structures decide. It is their business," he said. He voiced hope he and Bosnian Council of Ministers chairman Adnan Terzic would sign a protocol on amending Article 9 of the Agreement on port of Ploce in the coming two days. The amendment to the agreement would exclude the seventh member of a joint commission on Ploce, i.e. a representative of the international community. (hina) lml