Matas will discuss projects with Zapatero

Joan Collins JAUME Matas, leader of the Balearic Government, will meet the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Tuesday at 6pm in the boardroom at Palma airport. This meeting will take place one hour before Zapatero's meeting with the King of Spain in the Marivent Palace, the second of their traditional Summer meetings. The meeting was confirmed by Balearic government spokesman Joan Flaquer, who said that Matas would inform Zapatero about the four projects of Research, Development and Innovation (I+D+i) which he wants to promote in the region, and for which he will ask for State finance of 130 million euros. According to Flaquer, although it is expected that the two leaders will talk about other things as well, such as air transport, the roads treaty and the transfer of judicial power to the islands, the “priority” of the meeting is that the Spanish Government should “complete in deeds” what at the moment are “just words” and sign a firm agreement to give the necessary investment funds to the islands to go ahead with the projects. Flaquer said that the Balearic Government will take advantage of the “sensitivity” shown by Zapatero during his visit to Ibiza on July 15, when he showed his interest in giving the islands a “large economic boost” for I+D+i to help in scientific investigation. “Matas trusts that Zapatero's words will become deeds and the Balearics will receive financial aid during the period 2007-2013 for these four projects”, said Flaquer.