Minister pushes to compensate Austrians

Infrastructure Minister Milutin Mrkonjic said that the Alpine Porr's preparation costs for the Horgos-Pozega project should be reimbursed. “I would return the guarantee to the people and reimburse them for the amount they invested in the project. That is my personal stance,” Mrkonjic told reporters at a roundtable discussion organized by the Economist Media Group in Belgrade on Monday. Minister pushes to compensate Austrians Mrkonjic could not say how much would have to be repaid, but he said that the concessionaires will submit a report on how much has been done on the preparation of the project, after which reimbursement discussion could follow. The Serbian government’s work group is expected to finish the process related to the concession and to reach an agreement with Alpine Porr, after the Austrian consortium withdraw from all elements of the highway contract last week. “I expect that the situation will be completely cleared up by next week,” he said. Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that negotiations are still ongoing for ending the agreement with the concessionaires. He said that Serbia will be free of this contract by the end of the year if an agreement that is suitable for both sides is reached. Negotiations between the concessionaires and Spatial Planning Minister Oliver Dulic for terminating the contract are expected to begin tomorrow. Earlier today, Mrkonjic said that EUR 4bn would be invested in the construction of Corridor 10 in the next four years. He told the round table that EUR 1.6bn would be invested in the highway stretch between Subotica, Dimitrovgrad and Vranje on in the next 2.5 years. Mrkonjic said that Corridor 4, which goes through Romania and which will "take away part of the traffic", will be completed in three years, making it imperative for Serbia to complete this part of Corridor 10 before that. He announced that most of the funds will be secured from international loans, and that Corridor 10 would "double net foreign currency inflow in two and a half years". Mrkonjic said that EUR 1.21bn will be invested in railway traffic in the next four years in order to increase the speed of trains at parts of the railway to 160 km/h standard, and complete the Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis junctions. After that, another million euros will be invested in the country's railways every year over the next three years, according to this minister. Mrkonjic announced that works on the Belgrade – Southern Adriatic, Belgrade – Vrsac and Novi Sad – Ruma highways would also continue. Mrkonjic speaks at the round table today (Tanjug)

Minister pushes to compensate Austrians

Mrkonjić could not say how much would have to be repaid, but he said that the concessionaires will submit a report on how much has been done on the preparation of the project, after which reimbursement discussion could follow.

The Serbian government’s work group is expected to finish the process related to the concession and to reach an agreement with Alpine Porr, after the Austrian consortium withdraw from all elements of the highway contract last week.

“I expect that the situation will be completely cleared up by next week,” he said.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković said that negotiations are still ongoing for ending the agreement with the concessionaires.

He said that Serbia will be free of this contract by the end of the year if an agreement that is suitable for both sides is reached.

Negotiations between the concessionaires and Spatial Planning Minister Oliver Dulić for terminating the contract are expected to begin tomorrow.

Earlier today, Mrkonjić said that EUR 4bn would be invested in the construction of Corridor 10 in the next four years.

He told the round table that EUR 1.6bn would be invested in the highway stretch between Subotica, Dimitrovgrad and Vranje on in the next 2.5 years.

Mrkonjić said that Corridor 4, which goes through Romania and which will "take away part of the traffic", will be completed in three years, making it imperative for Serbia to complete this part of Corridor 10 before that.

He announced that most of the funds will be secured from international loans, and that Corridor 10 would "double net foreign currency inflow in two and a half years".

Mrkonjić said that EUR 1.21bn will be invested in railway traffic in the next four years in order to increase the speed of trains at parts of the railway to 160 km/h standard, and complete the Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš junctions.

After that, another million euros will be invested in the country's railways every year over the next three years, according to this minister.

Mrkonjić announced that works on the Belgrade – Southern Adriatic, Belgrade – Vršac and Novi Sad – Ruma highways would also continue.