TRANSPORT MINISTER SAYS ROAD TOLL ON "ISTRIAN Y" WON'T BE RAISED

( Editorial: --> 8599 ) ZAGREB, July 19 (Hina) - This year the road toll for passage through Ucka Tunnel and on sections of the "Istrian Y" road will not be raised, a statement from the Croatian Transport Ministry said on Sunday. This was concluded yesterday at a meeting Croatian Transport Minister Zeljko Luzavec held with representatives of the Union Bank of Switzerland, which is the leading creditor in the financing and building of the "Istrian Y", and leaders of BINA-Istra, the concessionary for the road building. To ensure successful work on the "Istrian Y", the Croatian Government will in line with the concession contract compensate the difference between the extant road toll and a road toll envisaged by an independent transport study. Luzavec said the Croatian Government would fully comply with regulations from the concession contract signed with BINA-Istra. The road toll on the "Istrian Y" will be decided following an analysis now in course and the completion of an integral programme making road tolls in Croatia uniform, said the Transport Ministry statement. Earlier this month, representatives of BINA-Istra, whose ownership is equally divided between Croatia and French firm Buoygues, said the building of the "Istrian Y" would not be possible without the charging of a road toll or compensation from the Croatian Government. The toll charged for passage through Ucka Tunnel ensures only one third of the concessionary's loan, they said. The concessionary was requested by the Croatian Government, on behalf of Istra County, not to raise the tunnel toll nor introduce a road toll. The Istra County assembly said a road toll should not be charged on the "Istrian Y" as it was not a highway, and that the concessionary should not charge the toll for passage through a tunnel, Ucka, that it did not build. The vice president of the Swiss bank, the largest investment bank in Europe, Hans-Peter Achermann said yesterday the bank wanted to follow investments in Croatia and in particular supported the "Istrian Y". According to Assistant Road Transport and Roads Minister Zeljko Vivoda, the "Istrian Y" was of primary importance, especially in the development of tourism and economy in general, as well as for the Istra peninsula and Croatia. The project is a Croatian Government priority, he said. Representatives of the Croatian Roads Administration said yesterday Croatia had fulfilled all its obligations so far and expected the concessionary to realise the project in line with the deadlines from the concession contract. The head of the BINA-Istra administration Charles Paradis said he was satisfied with yesterday's meeting where the Croatian Government reaffirmed it understood the project's importance. (hina) ha 191629 MET jul 98