LOWER HOUSE DEBATES ISTRIA MOTORWAY CONTRACT

( Editorial: --> 3369 ) ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - The June session of the Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives continued on Wednesday with a debate on the establishment of a commission which would look into the circumstances of the tender for the construction of an Istrian motorway. The proposal was initiated by representatives of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) who are dissatisfied with the French contractors' intention to charge a road toll through the Ucka tunnel and part of the road from the tunnel to Pazin. In that regard IDS recently organised a protest rally of Istria citizens. Premier Zlatko Matesa, on the other hand, recently announced that a road toll will not be charged. Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic also included the proposed Programme of Return and Care for Displaced Persons and Refugees in the agenda, which along with the budget revision, is the most important item in the remainder of the June session. The proposal for establishing an inquiry commission into the Istrian motorway was presented by Ivan Jakovcic (IDS). He asserted that the contract for the construction of a motorway through Istria is the worst possible project ever agreed to. Analysing the tender agreement he said that the contractor got the job without an international tender being conducted and the Government took advantage of the time when Parliament was not sitting to approve the tender by decree. Jakovcic said that the contractor got DM579 million for the construction of the road's first phase (90km) while according to his information, the local builders' bid was DM160 million. Assistant Transport Minister Zeljko Vivoda said the Government believes it unnecessary to establish an inquiry commission. The contract was based on the law and Constitution, said Vivoda, adding that the road route through Istria was confirmed as a government interest. He said that in view of the fact that the Istrian motorway was only profitable during the two summer months, the Government had to offer additional benefits, such as allowing the contractor to charge a road toll through the Ucka tunnel (previously constructed) and exemption from Value Added Tax. (hina) as bag 241327 MET jun 98