Prime Minister Ivo Sanader opened the 40-kilometre Šestanovac-Zagvozd-Ravča section of the Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik highway on Monday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Ravča, Sanader said that the highway section, worth HRK 1.66 billion, would create new possibilities for the development of tourism and economic zones in that part of the country.
The PM stressed that Croatia would definitely build the Pelješac Bridge, although funds for its construction would be reduced in 2009 due to the economic crisis.
The Pelješac Bridge will be built in several years, Sanader said, adding that the bridge would not pose a problem for Bosnia-Herzegovina and that Croatia would build it in order to link its areas and create new prospects for the development of its southern regions.
Sanader said that in the next few years a road would be built to link the eastern towns of Đakovo and Osijek along the future Corridor 5C. The PM also talked about the construction of the Danube - Sava canal as well as about the completion of some other important infrastructural projects.
The PM announced plans to build gas supply networks and irrigation systems in all areas which needed them.
He estimated that Croatia would become a member of NATO at the next summit of the alliance, in April 2009, and that it would complete its membership talks with the European Union despite the fact that they were currently being blocked by Slovenia.
"We will know how to solve that problem and nothing will stop us on our way to the EU”, Sanader said, adding that he was a moderate optimist.
Transport Minister Božidar Kalmeta, who attended the ceremony as well, said that work on connecting Croatian regions by road would continue in the coming years as well.
Kalmeta and Parliament Speaker Luka Bebić, another guest at the opening ceremony, said the economic crisis would not stop public works and infrastructure building in the country in the years to come.
(Hina)