Estonian defmin pledges no cuts in funds earmarked for Victory Monument
14.04.2008
TALLINN, Apr 14, BNS - The Estonian minister of defense is seeking immunity from fiscal cuts for funds earmarked for the Victory Monument despite calls that the project should be canceled or shelved for cost reasons in the current economic slowdown, the daily Postimees reports.
Minister of Defense Jaak Aaviksoo sent a letter to Finance Minister Ivari Padar containing political declarations rather than a vision for the reduction of expenses, and ruled out the possibility that money could be saved at the expense of the monument, the newspaper said.
"Contracts worth 75 million kroons (EUR 4.8 mln) have already been signed and their termination would give no cost effect but would rather represent a populistic waste of money. Costs for the Victory Monument must be treated separately from everything else," Aaviksoo said.
The minister said that the Defense Ministry was about to spend 50 million kroons to build the monument and that under an arrangement agreed between Cabinet members bills worth up to 50 million kroons more can be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for payment probably from the government's 140 million kroon contingency reserve.
The government approved the extraordinary financing scheme deviating from standard public procurement procedures on Feb. 28.
Aaviksoo and the director general of the Czech company Sans Souci have signed an agreement under which the Czech company would design, produce and put up the glass monument in Tallinn for 63 million kroons.
The monument, whose design has attracted both vocal opposition and voices in support from the public, is due ready in mid-October and is scheduled to be unveiled on Nov. 28, the 90th anniversary of the start of the War of Independence.
While Aaviksoo has promised to do everything to keep the total cost of the monument under 100 million kroons, skeptics have spoken of sums of up to 120 million kroons. Extraordinary outlays may be required if an archeological site has to be explored in the area of the ground works, for instance.
Aaviksoo has also refused to reduce defense spending by 9 percent or 444 million kroons, stressing that such a unilateral move would undermine Estonia's credibility as a NATO partner. The Defense Ministry is prepared to save money by freezing public servants' salaries if a policy decision to that effect is made, Aaviksoo said in his letter to the finance minister.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8863, sise@bns.ee
 
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