Former Montenegrin prime minister denies corruption

PODGORICA Ex-Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic has denied that there was any corruption during the privatization of the Montenegrin telecommunications company Telekom. He said before the parliament’s Inquiry Committee that there had been no irregularities in the sale of Telekom, stressing that this was a good privatization. Former Montenegrin prime minister denies corruption “I have no knowledge of corruption in this, all I can say is that there was no corruption during the privatization of Telekom,” Djukanovic pointed out. According to him, the privatization of Telekom was done in accordance with the laws. “I believe this is one of the best privatizations in Montenegro,” the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro leader noted. He announced a “quick recovery” of the Montenegro’s economy two days ago, stating that the country would “soon reach a GDP of EUR 15,000 per capita”. Former government officials Branko Vujovic, Darko Uskokovic and Veselin Vukotic have also denied that that there was corruption in the privatization of Telekom. Vujovic was a president of the Tender Commission, Uskokovic was the economy minister at the time while Vukotic was the government’s Privatization Council deputy president. The three of them stressed that there had been no irregularities and that the privatization was good. Former Telekom Directors Oleg Obradovic, Milan Perovic and Miodrag Ivanovic also denied the corruption. The privatization of Telekom came to the center of the attention of the Montenegrin public after the U.S. financial authorities determined in late 2011 that Deutsche Telekom had through its company Magyar Telekom bribed several Montenegrin officials with a total of EUR 7.35mn. The Montenegrin parliament accepted the opposition’s initiative to open a parliamentary probe into the Telekom affair in the beginning of March. The Inquiry Committee has eight members – four from the opposition and four from the ruling coalition. The body is chaired by opposition New Serb Democracy leader Andrija Mandic. Milo Djukanovic (FoNet, file) Tanjug

Former Montenegrin prime minister denies corruption

“I have no knowledge of corruption in this, all I can say is that there was no corruption during the privatization of Telekom,” Đukanović pointed out.

According to him, the privatization of Telekom was done in accordance with the laws.

“I believe this is one of the best privatizations in Montenegro,” the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro leader noted.

He announced a “quick recovery” of the Montenegro’s economy two days ago, stating that the country would “soon reach a GDP of EUR 15,000 per capita”.

Former government officials Branko Vujović, Darko Uskoković and Veselin Vukotić have also denied that that there was corruption in the privatization of Telekom.

Vujović was a president of the Tender Commission, Uskoković was the economy minister at the time while Vukotić was the government’s Privatization Council deputy president.

The three of them stressed that there had been no irregularities and that the privatization was good.

Former Telekom Directors Oleg Obradović, Milan Perović and Miodrag Ivanović also denied the corruption.

The privatization of Telekom came to the center of the attention of the Montenegrin public after the U.S. financial authorities determined in late 2011 that Deutsche Telekom had through its company Magyar Telekom bribed several Montenegrin officials with a total of EUR 7.35mn.

The Montenegrin parliament accepted the opposition’s initiative to open a parliamentary probe into the Telekom affair in the beginning of March.

The Inquiry Committee has eight members – four from the opposition and four from the ruling coalition. The body is chaired by opposition New Serb Democracy leader Andrija Mandić.