“No money for political projects”

National Investment Plan (NIP) Minister Verica Kalanovic said that as opposed to last year, there will be no money spent on "political projects" in 2009. Kalanovic said that because of the elections last year, some money from the NIP was used for strictly political projects. “No money for political projects” She said that in the three years since Serbia created the NIP, there have been no studies done yet to see how much it has helped the economy and people of Serbia. “We can be satisfied with the finished projects, but not with the fact that some projects were financed last year by the NIP for purely political use. I guarantee that in 2009 not one dinar will be spent according to that principle,” Kalanovic, who is the vice president of the G17 Plus, told daily Blic. Asked whether the NIP was been good for Serbia, Kalanovic said that the program enabled money to be spent through projects, instead of the "previous philosophy"—give me the money and I will spend it wisely. “Local self-administrations, non-governmental organizations and others are now asking only if their ideas have been approved,” Kalanovic said.

“No money for political projects”

She said that in the three years since Serbia created the NIP, there have been no studies done yet to see how much it has helped the economy and people of Serbia.

“We can be satisfied with the finished projects, but not with the fact that some projects were financed last year by the NIP for purely political use. I guarantee that in 2009 not one dinar will be spent according to that principle,” Kalanović, who is the vice president of the G17 Plus, told daily Blic.

Asked whether the NIP was been good for Serbia, Kalanović said that the program enabled money to be spent through projects, instead of the "previous philosophy"—give me the money and I will spend it wisely.

“Local self-administrations, non-governmental organizations and others are now asking only if their ideas have been approved,” Kalanović said.