The management of the company "Luka Bar" AD announced the recent case of drug smuggling in banana packages, clarifying that they did not transship the goods in which cocaine was found, and that they did not have the authority to control the goods.
They said that they interpret the media reports about the case as "insufficient journalistic knowledge and unwillingness" to demarcate the role of that company, as the operator of the Port of Bar Free Zone, from one, i.e., a company that carries out the activity of transshipment and storage of cargo in part of the territory of the Port of Bar as infrastructure. on the other hand, as well as in the jurisdiction of the Port.
In this way, as they said, the ethical code of journalism is violated, as well as that this type of reporting damages Luka's reputation.
"Working in the Free Zone regime, managing the zone and carrying out economic activities in the Free Zone is regulated on the basis of authorization in accordance with the Law on Free Zones, general rules that represent the internal regulation of the Free Zone and form an integral part of the contract on carrying out activities in the zone concluded by the Port with individual user. Since 'Luka Bar' AD is an operator within the Free Zone, the general rules regulate the procedure and conditions for performing activities as well as responsibilities within the framework of work in the Free Zone. In the area of the Free Zone there are two concessionaires 'Luka Bar' AD and ' Port of Adria' AD, which performs transshipment and cargo storage activities in accordance with the Law on Ports," the announcement states.
As there are demarcations in part of the space, there are also demarcations in the part of operators and their responsibilities over goods, control of goods, security and the responsibilities themselves within the Free Zone, the company points out.
"According to media reports that narcotics are transshipped through Port Bar, we inform the public about the method of transshipment and storage of bananas, on the basis of which it was reported in the media that a suspicious cargo left via Port Bar, and this caused gross damage to the reputation of the Port Bar' AD", the company added.
Since the container terminal is not a part of "Luka Bar" AD, and therefore the transshipment of containers with bananas is not carried out through their company, but is done by another concessionaire in the port area, it is necessary to point out, as they said, that the specified goods were not transshipped by their company, as well as that they do not have the authority to control the goods, but the monitoring measures are carried out by the Revenue and Customs Administration through its office within the Free Zone.
"We hereby emphasize that the goods that enter the port do not determine 'Luka Bar' AD as the business holder and the authority for certain goods. From the security aspect of the entry and exit of goods from the area of the Free Zone, at the main gate of the port, in addition to the port security, the competent and an officer of the border police, an officer of the Revenue and Customs Administration, Bar Customs Office. The part that refers to the control of goods is exclusively the responsibility of the Bar Revenue and Customs Administration. 'Luka Bar' AD does not have the authority to remove customs seals on trucks and other means of transport. because that would be a criminal offense," the statement concludes.
"Luka Bar" AD, within the scope of its activities and jurisdiction over goods, respects the measures provided for by law, protects its own interests and those of its clients, and with its contribution to the domestic and international market, serves as an example of successful business and a professional and responsible attitude towards work.
Therefore, we indignantly reject as inaccurate, untrue and tendentious statements that create completely unfounded suspicions, which are not based on any evidence and/or fact that "Luka Bar" AD did anything contrary to the law.
It is a frequent phenomenon in the field of media reporting on certain irregularities or negative phenomena within the overall area of the Port, within which other operators also operate, from the aspect of the visual identity of the Port, the focus is on the Administration Building "Luka Bar" AD and other facilities of our company, so this way we warn that in the future we will take measures in accordance with the Law against all media that violate the right to reputation and business reputation that we have on the domestic and international market.
We conclude that, since the articles and announcements in the media contain malicious and untrue allegations, which are against the rules of the journalistic profession, "before publishing information about a certain event, phenomenon and/or personality, its origin, truthfulness and completeness should be checked with due journalistic attention." (Art. 31 of the Law on Media), and directly to the detriment of our company's reputation, we will be forced, if the same or a similar manner were to be used in the future, to initiate appropriate proceedings before the competent judicial authorities, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Media (Official Gazette CG no. 82/20, art. 24.25,39, 1, 2-paragraph 40 and XNUMX and art. XNUMX).
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