The new government members are the new strength, ability and competence required for projects awaiting us in 2011, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said in Parliament on Wednesday, calling on MPs to approve the nominees for ministers and deputy prime ministers.
Kosor expressed confidence that the previous work and experience of the new members of her Cabinet guaranteed the successful accomplishment of the government's three main tasks - completion of EU accession talks, economic recovery and the fight against corruption.
The new government members will be a part of a team in which everyone will have to do their best. "Nothing starts or ends today, and the people I have nominated to join my team will give it new energy, impetus and refreshment that is needed by every government," Kosor said.
Speaking of Martina Dalic, the nominee for the post of Finance Minister, Kosor said that she believed that her great experience and results as well as her team-building abilities would make her a successful minister and member of the government's economic team.
She was confident that Davor Bozinovic, as the new Defence Minister, would use his experience at NATO and at the Foreign Ministry to make the most of the potential arising from membership in that organisation.
Kosor said she also believed that the competence of Branko Bacic, the nominee for Minister of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction, would contribute to removing obstacles encountered by business people and potential investors on the ground.
She said that the youth and energy of Jasen Mesic, the nominee for Culture Minister, would contribute to the accomplishment of the government's goals.
Croatia's economic recovery can be achieved through the consistent implementation of the government's programme for economic recovery, Kosor said, mentioning in that context 30 big investment projects announced by the government, in the amount of some EUR 14 billion.
"The ruling coalition is confident that if some of them are implemented, we can have an economic growth in 2011 of more than the planned 1.5 percent," Kosor said, adding that it would mean a decrease in the number of unemployed people.
She dismissed claims that one should not be launching new projects in 2011, an election year. "An election year is just like any other year and it must not be lost, it must be a year in which the government will work 24 hours a day."
Kosor called on the opposition to strongly support the government's programme for economic recovery, the EU accession talks, and the fight against corruption.
The parliament continued the session with a debate among party groups on the proposed government reshuffle.
