Govt Fulfilled its Promises to Region, PM Says

Mozirje, 23 May

Prime Minister Janez Jansa said on Wednesday that the government had fulfilled its promises given to the mid north-east region of Savinjsko-salesko when it first visited it two years ago. "We have discovered that all the promises, bar the ones that require a longer completion date, have been met," Jansa told the press in Mozirje.

The key issue when the cabinet first toured the region was whether Savinjsko-salesko would become one of the provinces and it is clear today that it will, the prime minister said.
The second major issue was lack of funds for municipalities in the region and the amended municipalities funding act gave all of them more money, Jansa added. According to him, the amended legislation gives the municipalities 12% more funds, meaning some EUR 4m.
The third important issue was the listing of large regional projects in the resolution on national development projects, such as the sixth reactor of the Sostanj coal-fired plant and the third development axis, a road link between Savinjsko-salesko and SE Slovenia. The resolution allocates over EUR 2bn for the project, Jansa said.
Transport Minister Janez Bozic meanwhile said that the final course of the motorway should be known in September, meaning the construction could begin in late 2009.
Jansa also said that the EUR 10m waste water treatment plant in the Saleska Valley was being built, new premises of the social care centre were opened in Mozirje and an entrepreneurial education centre launched in Velenje.
The economy in the region is also doing relatively well and unemployment in the region was down by 20% in the past two years, Jansa said as the two-day government tour of the region was drawing to a close.
The region also contains several large companies, such as home appliances maker Gorenje, while another reason for satisfaction is the successful development of small- and medium-sized companies, Jansa said and called on companies to apply for EU funds in the 2007-2013 period.
Jansa also positively assessed the development potential of the region. Given the current trends and the cooperation of all involved as well as the creation of provinces, this region will become "one of the most successful in the country", Jansa said.
The prime minister and his cabinet also held a meeting with the mayors, executives, deputies and upper chamber councillors later in the evening.
He told the assembled representatives that 60 various visits took place during the government's trip in the region and that many burning issues had been resolved in the past two years.
Velenje Mayor Srecko Meh presented the successful business operations of the companies in the region, however, pointed to lengthy denationalisation procedures and to the need for more calls for bids for development projects.
Justice Minister Lovro Sturm replied that the cabinet is gearing up to increase the pace of such procedures and is drafting an act on speeding up denationalisation issues.
Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak told the participants that the ministry was drafting a EUR 50m call for bids for tourism infrastructure.
Bozic meanwhile added that the reconstruction of the road towards the Logarska Valley would require between four and five additional years and that the state allocated EUR 3m for the project.

Govt Fulfilled its Promises to Region, PM Says

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