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3.25 Million Zloty in Additional Funds for Oświęcim under the Government Strategic Program

Bielsko-Biała, October 25 (PAP). The Polish government has appropriated an additional 3.25 million zloty from its budget reserve for the Oświęcim Government Strategic Program (OGSP), Oświęcim local government spokeswoman Katarzyna Kwiecień announced on Monday.

Jakub Krzyszycha of the Małopolska Województwo press office announced that the appropriation of additional funding for the OGSP is connected with the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which will be marked on January 25, 2005.

Some 10,000 people, including many heads of state, are expected to attend the ceremonies. The additional funding will make it possible to improve the transport and traffic situation in the vicinity of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and of the restored Piast castle in the city.

In the current year, 1.4 million zloty have already been expended under the OGSP. The city of Oświęcim has used this money to restore the castle, and the local powiat has renovated a street and bridge across the river Soła.

The Oświęcim Government Strategic Program was approved in 1996 in the wake of the conflict over a commercial development that the Maja company of Oświęcim was building near the walls of the Auschwitz site. The Program calls for the regulation and utilization of the buffer zone around the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, and the modernization of transport in Oświęcim. There are also plans to revitalize the old town center and create an International Congress Center and an Education Center.

In 2002, the Polish Council of Ministers approved the second phase of the plan, covering the years 2003-2006. Priorities in this phase include the regulation and utilization of the Museum buffer zone, the improvement of transport access for pilgrims, tourists, and investors, and the enhancement of the attractiveness of Oświęcim and the vicinity.