"Multihalle" is doing everything in its power to have multifunction arena built on time
"Multihalle Ltd." has been, and will be doing everything in its power to ensure that a multifunction ice hockey arena in Riga, needed for hosting ice hockey world championship in 2006, be built on time, says the company^apostrofs;s statement to the press released today.
"Multihalle Ltd." has been, and will be doing everything in its power to ensure that a multifunction ice hockey arena in Riga, needed for hosting ice hockey world championship in 2006, be built on time, says the company's statement to the press released today.
The decision of the "Multihalle"-selected investor, "Merks Ltd.", not to participate in the project was unexpected, and "Merks" statement about incomplete documents that were necessary to evaluate the project was ungrounded, "Multhihalle" said.
"Multihalle" provided "Merks" with all necessary documents it had. According to "Multihalle's" consultant, the experienced construction company "CMC Baltic", these documents provided sufficient information about the arena's construction costs, "Multihalle" said.
According to "Multilalle's" statement, more than EUR 1 million have been invested into the project so far, and this money has not been provided by taxpayers but attracted by "Multihalle" members.
"Multihalle" is perplexed at criticisms made by the championship steering committee's head Guntis Ulmanis, it regards Ulmanis' statements as ungrounded and damaging. "Multihalle" shareholders are as perplexed at Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers' (Latvia's First Party) statements.
Officials' statements about "Multihalle" have actually created the impression that Riga could fail to host the world ice hockey championship in 2006, said "Multihalle" executive director Ivars Kalviskis.
They have said that construction of the arena is behind schedule. However, the arena's designs were approved by the Riga Construction Board on March 29, piles are being driven at the construction site by the joint-stock construction company "Latvijas tilti" that was selected through a competition as the best company to build the arena's foundations.
Coordination of the arena's technical project continues, and "Multihalle" executives believe that reviewing any alternative projects will not be feasible as too little time remains until the championship.
"Multihalle" is maximally interested that the world championship is held in Riga, and admits that finally, the government and the Riga City Council have started to talk sense and have a common position on the championship. Only personal money of "Multihalle" members has been invested into the project so far, and "Multihalle" will never try to hinder organization of the world ice hockey championship in Latvia in 2006, says the statement.
It also says that "Multihalle" representatives did not attend the government's meeting when signing an agreement between the government, Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF), "Multihalle" and "Merks" was reviewed, as they had not been invited.
Slesers told LETA he was perplexed at such a statement. Monday evening, he had spoken with both the LHF president Kirovs Lipmans and Ulmanis. Both were notified that the agreement would be signed during the government's meeting on Tuesday, March 30.
Slesers also said that shortly before the government's meeting, he received a phone call from "Multihalle" shareholder Ojars Kehris, who said that signing the agreement was impossible.
As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers decided yesterday to hold consultations with the Riga City Council until April 1 to adopt a final decision on organization of the world championship in Riga in 2006.
Slesers said that the government and Riga City Council should assume the responsibility for organizing such a large-scale sports event, not LHF or "Multihalle". Slesers also recommended the Riga City Council to terminate its land lease contract with "Multihalle".
According to Slesers, if the government still believes that the world championship can be organized in Latvia in 2006, it should delegate Prime Minister Indulis Emsis to start negotiations with the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The decision of the "Multihalle"-selected investor, "Merks Ltd.", not to participate in the project was unexpected, and "Merks" statement about incomplete documents that were necessary to evaluate the project was ungrounded, "Multhihalle" said.
"Multihalle" provided "Merks" with all necessary documents it had. According to "Multihalle's" consultant, the experienced construction company "CMC Baltic", these documents provided sufficient information about the arena's construction costs, "Multihalle" said.
According to "Multilalle's" statement, more than EUR 1 million have been invested into the project so far, and this money has not been provided by taxpayers but attracted by "Multihalle" members.
"Multihalle" is perplexed at criticisms made by the championship steering committee's head Guntis Ulmanis, it regards Ulmanis' statements as ungrounded and damaging. "Multihalle" shareholders are as perplexed at Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Slesers' (Latvia's First Party) statements.
Officials' statements about "Multihalle" have actually created the impression that Riga could fail to host the world ice hockey championship in 2006, said "Multihalle" executive director Ivars Kalviskis.
They have said that construction of the arena is behind schedule. However, the arena's designs were approved by the Riga Construction Board on March 29, piles are being driven at the construction site by the joint-stock construction company "Latvijas tilti" that was selected through a competition as the best company to build the arena's foundations.
Coordination of the arena's technical project continues, and "Multihalle" executives believe that reviewing any alternative projects will not be feasible as too little time remains until the championship.
"Multihalle" is maximally interested that the world championship is held in Riga, and admits that finally, the government and the Riga City Council have started to talk sense and have a common position on the championship. Only personal money of "Multihalle" members has been invested into the project so far, and "Multihalle" will never try to hinder organization of the world ice hockey championship in Latvia in 2006, says the statement.
It also says that "Multihalle" representatives did not attend the government's meeting when signing an agreement between the government, Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF), "Multihalle" and "Merks" was reviewed, as they had not been invited.
Slesers told LETA he was perplexed at such a statement. Monday evening, he had spoken with both the LHF president Kirovs Lipmans and Ulmanis. Both were notified that the agreement would be signed during the government's meeting on Tuesday, March 30.
Slesers also said that shortly before the government's meeting, he received a phone call from "Multihalle" shareholder Ojars Kehris, who said that signing the agreement was impossible.
As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers decided yesterday to hold consultations with the Riga City Council until April 1 to adopt a final decision on organization of the world championship in Riga in 2006.
Slesers said that the government and Riga City Council should assume the responsibility for organizing such a large-scale sports event, not LHF or "Multihalle". Slesers also recommended the Riga City Council to terminate its land lease contract with "Multihalle".
According to Slesers, if the government still believes that the world championship can be organized in Latvia in 2006, it should delegate Prime Minister Indulis Emsis to start negotiations with the International Ice Hockey Federation.
