HOUSE OF COUNTIES DEBATES TRAFFIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - The Croatian Sabor's House of Counties on Wednesday opened a debate on a traffic development strategy, the purpose of which is to link Croatian regions and help the country integrate into European traffic systems. According to the strategy, five per cent of Gross National Product (GNP) would be invested annually in the traffic system, and by the year 2010 this would amount to about US$20 million. The Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications, Ivan Pavlovic, said 40 per cent of the funds would be used for roads, 25 per cent for the railway, 20 per cent for maritime and river transport, five per cent for air and 10 per cent for integral transport. The road system has been defined in three priority groups, and the goal is to achieve top standards in road maintenance by the year 2007. As regards maritime transport, emphasis is placed on developing links between the mainland and islands, developing ports, and attracting new cargo into Croatian ports. Regarding railway transport, the strategy takes into account the current difficult situation. The development of the railway sector is also divided into several phases, and the first one - to finish by the start of 2003 - focuses on the reorganisation and modernisation of the railway. (hina) mm rml