Improving the water supply, purifying waste water, integrating the Bulgarian road system into European infrastructure and fighting landslides by 2005 are some of the priorities of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works' program.

Another priority is to improve the competitiveness of domestic construction materials producers and support their participation in international tenders. Minister Kostadin Paskalev submitted the program to the Council of Ministers last Thursday for approval.

"I think it is necessary to update and amend the program for resolving Bulgaria's drinking-water problem," Kostadin Paskalev told a press conference. "As far as the road network is concerned, there are many problems in this sphere too, but the main goals will be the integration of our road network with the European transport infrastructure and attaining the high level of transport facilities needed to improve the economic development of the country," the minister added.

Paskalev explained that their intentions are related to the building of the national motorway network that will link Bulgaria with the European transport corridors. These projects include the building of a second bridge over the Bulgarian section of the Danube River, the establishment of a basic roads to connect Bulgaria with the northern and southern parts of the Europe, as well as the modernization of the country's road network.

"Our work in most of these projects will be a continuation of the negotiations started by the previous government," admitted Kostadin Paskalev. "As far as the landslide processes are concerned, we need to take steps to stop them and to reduce the losses in tourism, agriculture, and transport as well as those of the private land-owners in those regions."

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works has already started talks on attracting domestic and foreign investors to the water sector. This could eventually result in the privatization and concession of the respective sectors. According to Minister Paskalev, one of the strategic goals of the ministry is the development of a functioning real estate market in the country. At this stage, he explained, it is normal to let foreigners buy Bulgarian land for industrial purposes. The sale of arable land will only be possible after a 10-year period, following the example of other EU-candidate states.

Paskalev said he believes it is necessary to create conditions for the normal implementation of real estate policy by the state, which must also function as a guarantor in this sphere. One of the problems that must be resolved during this Cabinet's term of office is the agreement between Bulgaria and Turkey for the building of the "Gorna Arda" hydro-power project, which was halted when the Turkish company, Ceilan, went bankrupt. The building of the hydro-power project and "Maritsa" highway are backed by bilateral agreements.