THE FUTURE of the state's money eater, the new national theatre, remains uncertain. photo: TASR |
Jarjabek is concerned that the draft state budget for 2004 allocates no resources for the building, which has already been under construction for 20 years, and into which over Sk3 billion (€72.86 million) from the state budget and citizen contributions has already gone.
Speaking to journalists on October 5, he opposed speculation about searching for alternative solutions and other attempts to sell "the representative cultural centre" of the nation.
To complete the national theatre would require an estimated Sk800 million (€19.4 million). The Finance Ministry proposes either suspending construction or seeking a new investor. On Monday, September 29, the Culture Ministry issued an appeal to Slovak and foreign institutions to help fund the rest of the project.