SIEPA agency director steps down, cites "persecution"

BELGRADE Director of the Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) Bozidar Laganin tendered his resignation to the Serbian government on Thursday. Laganin cited "personal persecution" by Economy Minister Sasa Radulovic and his own desire not to burden the future work of the Agency with his presence in such circumstances as the main reasons for his resignation, a statement said. SIEPA agency director steps down, cites "persecution" In his resignation letter, Laganin states that he had a “unique privilege, honor and pleasure to lead a team of top professionals” and that he has performed his job responsibly and conscientiously. He also said that he will make himself available to all government members and relevant bodies of the Republic of Serbia in case there is any question they should ask him or assistance that he can offer them. During the 2007-2008 period, Laganin served as special adviser to the SIEPA director and was appointed SIEPA director in June 2010. Minister Radulovic said last week that SIEPA and the Bankruptcy Supervision Agency will be shut down. SIEPA’s activities will be taken over by the Ministry of Economy, and the sector to be in charge of the job will cost Serbia five times less than SIEPA, Radulovic told a press conference. The Ministry of Economy filed criminal charges against Laganin over, as stated, dereliction of duty for failing to notify the competent Ministry of Economic Affairs and Commission for the consideration of applications that SIEPA has eight non-performing bank guarantees, worth EUR 555,250. First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic addressed the controversy as he spoke for B92 earlier this week. When asked whether the government supported Radulovoc in his move to shut down SIEPA, he said that the minister was "most often right, but sometimes lacks tactfulness." "If anyone's to blame for him being in the position he is in, it's me. I hope he will accept this type of positive criticism," said Vucic. Asked to comment on this, Radulovic said that "the truth cannot be avoided," and that he was "not a politician." Bozidar Laganin (Tanjug, file) B92 Tanjug

SIEPA agency director steps down, cites "persecution"

In his resignation letter, Laganin states that he had a “unique privilege, honor and pleasure to lead a team of top professionals” and that he has performed his job responsibly and conscientiously.

He also said that he will make himself available to all government members and relevant bodies of the Republic of Serbia in case there is any question they should ask him or assistance that he can offer them.

During the 2007-2008 period, Laganin served as special adviser to the SIEPA director and was appointed SIEPA director in June 2010.

Minister Radulović said last week that SIEPA and the Bankruptcy Supervision Agency will be shut down.

SIEPA’s activities will be taken over by the Ministry of Economy, and the sector to be in charge of the job will cost Serbia five times less than SIEPA, Radulović told a press conference.

The Ministry of Economy filed criminal charges against Laganin over, as stated, dereliction of duty for failing to notify the competent Ministry of Economic Affairs and Commission for the consideration of applications that SIEPA has eight non-performing bank guarantees, worth EUR 555,250.

First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić addressed the controversy as he spoke for B92 earlier this week. When asked whether the government supported Radulovoć in his move to shut down SIEPA, he said that the minister was "most often right, but sometimes lacks tactfulness."

"If anyone's to blame for him being in the position he is in, it's me. I hope he will accept this type of positive criticism," said Vučić.

Asked to comment on this, Radulović said that "the truth cannot be avoided," and that he was "not a politician."