Government scandal with Albpetrol

The Minister of Economy, Edmond Haxhinasto, revealed new details about the failed privatization of Albpetrol.
Summoned in Parliament for an interpellation by the Socialist MP, Erjon Brace, Minister Haxhinasto declared that after the first bid failed, the government tried to sell Albpetrol to the company listed second, with consultations from Patton Boggs.
“The Council of Ministers closed the negotiations for ‘Vetro Energy’. The decision authorizes the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy to evaluate the other bids”, Haxhinasto declared.
A few days after this decision, the government learned that the process was illegal, since the deadline of the bids had expired one month earlier.
“The Ministry of Economy verified that the deadline for the bids expired 120 days after the offer. The offers were opened on September 7th, and as result the validity of the offers ended on January 7th”, Haxhinasto declared.
“It means that from that moment there were no more valid bids for this tender. Last week you tried to reactivate the tender. It is clear that everything is over, and not because the government wanted so, as you declared earlier, but because that’s the law. It is over but with a colossal economic damage”, Brace declared.
Decision 107 of the Council of Ministers says that the winning company was unable to make the full payment of the guarantee, which on Vetro’s case was 85 million EUR.
“In these conditions, the Ministry started the procedures to withdraw the money”, Haxhinasto declared.
“Where is the 85 million EUR that the government should have received? Why don’t you take the money?”, Brace asked.
For Brace, someone is responsible for this damage.
“The commission of the government controlled by Sali Berisha admitted a false document. Patton Boggs, the Company that guaranteed the letter, is paid by your arrogant Prime Minister. The Prime Minister’s Commission announced the winner based on this false document. Their power abuse caused an economic damage of 85 million EUR, and this is a crime”, Brace declared.
Brace filed a suit at the Prosecution yesterday against Commission of Bids and the consulting “Patton Boggs” Company, together with other people involved.

TOP Channel, 21.02.2013