Former defense minister indicted

The Higher Prosecution in Belgrade has indicted former Serbia and Montenegro Defense Minister Prvoslav Davinic for abuse of office. Davinic has been indicted in connection to signing a harmful contract, that was supposed to enable Serbia to rent a satellite from Israel's ImageSet company. Former defense minister indicted Prosecution spokesman Tomo Zoric said today in Belgrade that Davinic used his official position to sign the contract worth some EUR 45mn, and that he had incurred financial damages to Serbia in the same amount. The spokesman added that Davinic clinched the deal with the Israelis in Paris in 2005, in violation of rules and decrees, and without consent of several state bodies, including the Ministry of Defense, the Budget Administration, and the MoD's Legal Administration. The case, dubbed the Satellite Affair in the media, was also underwent international arbitration. Serbia lost and was ordered by the International Court of Arbitration in Paris to pay EUR 36mn to the Israeli company for violating the contract. Davinic reacted to the news this afternoon by telling B92 that he would defend himself by proving that the indictment against him was not based in fact. The former minister and member of the ruling G17 Plus stated that his defense would also be based on pointing to the responsibility of others, including then and now cabinet minister and G17 Plus leader Mladjan Dinkic. It was Dinkic, Davinic said, who “indirectly recognized the contentious contract by attempting to negotiate with the Israelis”, thus creating a legal basis for the subsequent international arbitrage. Davinic also noted that he was “not surprised” that then President of the former State Union Svetozar Marovic has not been called to answer for his role in the affair, even though the Montenegrin politician “attended the signing of the contract”. Prvoslav Davinic (FoNet, file)

Former defense minister indicted

Prosecution spokesman Tomo Zorić said today in Belgrade that Davinić used his official position to sign the contract worth some EUR 45mn, and that he had incurred financial damages to Serbia in the same amount.

The spokesman added that Davinić clinched the deal with the Israelis in Paris in 2005, in violation of rules and decrees, and without consent of several state bodies, including the Ministry of Defense, the Budget Administration, and the MoD's Legal Administration.

The case, dubbed the Satellite Affair in the media, was also underwent international arbitration. Serbia lost and was ordered by the International Court of Arbitration in Paris to pay EUR 36mn to the Israeli company for violating the contract.

Davinić reacted to the news this afternoon by telling B92 that he would defend himself by proving that the indictment against him was not based in fact.

The former minister and member of the ruling G17 Plus stated that his defense would also be based on pointing to the responsibility of others, including then and now cabinet minister and G17 Plus leader Mlađan Dinkić.

It was Dinkić, Davinić said, who “indirectly recognized the contentious contract by attempting to negotiate with the Israelis”, thus creating a legal basis for the subsequent international arbitrage.

Davinić also noted that he was “not surprised” that then President of the former State Union Svetozar Marović has not been called to answer for his role in the affair, even though the Montenegrin politician “attended the signing of the contract”.