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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Italy interested in Belgrade-Bar railroad modernization

Belgrade, 27 October 2004

Serbian Minister of Capital Investment Velimir Ilic has said that the Veneto region of Italy is interested in funding a reconstruction of the Belgrade-Bar railroad, in a project valued at some €290 million.

Velimir Ilic

The preparation of project documentation has already cost €3 million, Ilic told a press conference today, adding that Serbia-Montenegro will also take part in the project.

Ilic said that Veneto’s offer is very good and added that the Italians have accepted in principle a condition that the project should be carried out by Serbian firms.

According to Ilic, the Italian government wants to take part in a project of new communications and fast combined transport of cargo and passengers, currently one of the largest projects underway in Italy.

Ilic said that Italy is also embarking on a project to build a highway between Trieste and Budapest, through Croatia, as well as a corridor along the Adriatic coast between Trieste and Bar, stressing the need for Serbia-Montenegro to fit into these corridors.

He explained that Italy’s aim is to connect the Danube with the port of Bar and that Serbia should rebuild the Danube port and switch quickly from river transport to railway and road transport.

Also, according to Ilic, Serbia will speed up the construction of a road connecting Pancevo with the Romanian border. He added that Montenegro will do part of the work, while Serbia will build the Belgrade-South Adriatic highway and finish construction of the Beska- Subotica highway.

Ilic said that the Veneto region is also interested in funding the Nis-Dimitrovgrad highway and he explained that Italian firms have already provided a very favorable loan, to be repaid over 20 or 30 years, for this project.