LSV: No change in gas prices

League of Vojvodina Social Democrats (LSV) leader Nenad Canak says that the government has promised to postpone the increase in gas prices. He said that government officials had told him that despite the planned increase in prices, gas bills in the coming heating season would not be any higher for citizens than they were last year. LSV: No change in gas prices Canak told a press conference that he expected the government to find a way to reduce the distribution margin. He said that there were 37 gas distributors in Serbia, eight of whom were not licensed to work, adding that some charged a margin of up to 40 percent. Canak said that he and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic would be submitting to the president, MPs and prosecution documentation that, he claims, proves that errors made by the government since 2004 are directly responsible for the recently announced gas price increase of 60 percent. The LSV stated that it would give proof of the “gas Mafia” to parliament, adding that it had already given the documentation to the Anti-Corruption Council. The LDP stated that it had documents showing that Vojislav Kostunica’s government had missed an opportunity to buy a 25 percent stake of Progres and Jugorus Gas in early 2006, which were then bought up by Gazprom. In so doing, the Russian partner took its holding in the company from 50 to 75 percent, which was why, the LDP states, the price of gas is currently higher in Serbia than it is in Bosnia or Italy. Nenad Canak, Cedomir Jovanovic at today's press conference (FoNet, archive) Corruption council to address "gas Mafia" Anti-Corruption Council Chairman Verica Barac says that concerns over the price of gas have come to the council’s knowledge in the past. Today, the League of Vojvodina Social-Democrats (LSV), a member of the ruling coalition, and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), will today submit documents to the president, government and MPs that prove, they claim, that bad government moves since 2004 have directly contributed to the recent 60 percent rise in the price of gas bills. The documentation will be sent to, among others, the Anti-Corruption Council, which told B92 that they had received worrying information regarding gas in the past. She said that there was no control in the work of the public companies, that “they have been bossed out by the political parties, who see them as their feudal property. From time to time, some information surfaces, especially when there are disputes and break-ups within a political party, or simply, when they want to score certain political points,” Barac said. The LDP’s Cedomir Jovanovic said that the nation had been tricked and robbed when the government signed the energy agreement with Russia, adding that the 60 percent price hike was a direct consequence of that deal. Another problem, he said, were gas brokers. LSV leader Nenad Canak reiterated that the gas issue depended on whether the party’s five MPs would keep supporting the government. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that the police would look into the evidence about the "gas Mafia" collected by the LSV and the LDP, and that it would act accordingly if any criminal elements were discovered.

LSV: No change in gas prices

Čanak told a press conference that he expected the government to find a way to reduce the distribution margin.

He said that there were 37 gas distributors in Serbia, eight of whom were not licensed to work, adding that some charged a margin of up to 40 percent.

Čanak said that he and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović would be submitting to the president, MPs and prosecution documentation that, he claims, proves that errors made by the government since 2004 are directly responsible for the recently announced gas price increase of 60 percent.

The LSV stated that it would give proof of the “gas Mafia” to parliament, adding that it had already given the documentation to the Anti-Corruption Council.

The LDP stated that it had documents showing that Vojislav Koštunica’s government had missed an opportunity to buy a 25 percent stake of Progres and Jugorus Gas in early 2006, which were then bought up by Gazprom.

In so doing, the Russian partner took its holding in the company from 50 to 75 percent, which was why, the LDP states, the price of gas is currently higher in Serbia than it is in Bosnia or Italy.

Corruption council to address "gas Mafia"

Anti-Corruption Council Chairman Verica Barać says that concerns over the price of gas have come to the council’s knowledge in the past.

Today, the League of Vojvodina Social-Democrats (LSV), a member of the ruling coalition, and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), will today submit documents to the president, government and MPs that prove, they claim, that bad government moves since 2004 have directly contributed to the recent 60 percent rise in the price of gas bills.

The documentation will be sent to, among others, the Anti-Corruption Council, which told B92 that they had received worrying information regarding gas in the past.

She said that there was no control in the work of the public companies, that “they have been bossed out by the political parties, who see them as their feudal property. From time to time, some information surfaces, especially when there are disputes and break-ups within a political party, or simply, when they want to score certain political points,” Barać said.

The LDP’s Čedomir Jovanović said that the nation had been tricked and robbed when the government signed the energy agreement with Russia, adding that the 60 percent price hike was a direct consequence of that deal. Another problem, he said, were gas brokers.

LSV leader Nenad Čanak reiterated that the gas issue depended on whether the party’s five MPs would keep supporting the government.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said that the police would look into the evidence about the "gas Mafia" collected by the LSV and the LDP, and that it would act accordingly if any criminal elements were discovered.