The company "Univerzal Monte" fulfilled all obligations related to the agreement on the termination of the bot arrangement for the road Meljine - Petijevići, while the Government of Montenegro did not do the same, which is why we filed a lawsuit with the Commercial Court and we expect that it will be in our favor in a short period of time.
This is what the director of the company "Univerzal Monte" told "Vijesti". Đorđe Vlaović.
This company, behind which stands a Serbian businessman Vuk Hamovic, built the road Meljine - Petijevići according to an arrangement based on which it was supposed to use it for 20 years and return it to the ownership of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, but this agreement was terminated in May 2021 during the time of the former government headed by Zdravko Krivokapic.
"According to the 'Agreement on Termination of the Agreement on the Construction, Operation and Transfer (BOT) of the Meljine - Petijevići Road', the obligations of the company 'Univerzal Monte' were to submit all available documentation related to the construction of the Meljine - Petijevići Road, and to complete it at its own expense. started rehabilitation of the road section on Kotobilje, while the obligation of the Government of Montenegro was to pay a compensation of four million no later than January 31, 2022. "Universal Monte" fulfilled its obligations in full, which was stated in the minutes, while the Government of Montenegro did not fulfill its obligation, so "Universal Monte" submitted a lawsuit to the Commercial Court in April 2022 in order to fulfill the contractual obligation of the Government of Montenegro". said Vlaović.
Prime Minister's Government Dritan Abazović decided at the beginning of November 2022 to forward the complete documentation related to the agreement on the termination of the bot arrangement for the Meljine - Petijevići road to the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) in order to investigate whether there are elements of corruption in this case.
The termination agreement was signed on behalf of the state by the former Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajic and on behalf of the Municipality of Herceg Novi, the president of that local administration Stevan Katic.
The Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare, headed by Spajić, signed an agreement on the termination of the contract, in which it was defined that the money should be paid by January 31, 2022. However, in the budget for that year, the payment of four million was not planned, but at the last session of the former Government on April 20, 2022, a conclusion was reached that this money should be paid from the current budget reserve. On April 15 of last year, the protector of property and legal interests of the state submitted to Spajić the lawsuit filed by "Univerzal Monte" in the Commercial Court.
"The first hearing before the Commercial Court is scheduled for February 2023. The members of the agreement on the termination of the Meljine - Petijevići route are clear and we expect to receive a verdict in favor of 'Univerzal Monte' in a short period of time", pointed out Vlaović.
"Vijesti" asked why the company "Univerzal Monte" decided to sign the agreement on the termination of the bot arrangement and what economic interest they were guided by.
"The return on invested funds was significantly below expectations, largely due to the non-opening of goods traffic at the Sitnica border crossing. Also, since the completion of the construction of the road, there has been constant pressure from the municipality of Herceg Novi to terminate the bot arrangement and thus eliminate the toll. The construction of the Meljine - Petijevići road was financed with funds that 'Universal Monte' borrowed from the owner of the company. The originally offered price for terminating the bot agreement was the unpaid principal of those loans, which amounted to 4.602.150 euros. With that, 'Universal Monte' waived interest on the loan and future profits. At the request of the Ministry of Finance and the Municipality of Herceg Novi, the price for terminating the bot agreement was agreed at four million, with the condition that the payment be made no later than January 31.01.2022, XNUMX. year", explained Vlaović.
He added that the formal initiative to terminate the bot agreement was initiated by the Municipality of Herceg Novi, and "Univerzal Monte" responded positively to this request.
The 12,5 kilometer long section is part of the Herceg Novi - Trebinje road and was officially opened at the beginning of July 2008. It was built as a public and private partnership, according to the bot system (take, build, use and return) between the Municipality of Herceg Novi and the Belgrade company. Univerzal Holding", that is, the company "Univerzal Monte" from Herceg Novi. The road was given to the investor for 20 years, after which it was supposed to become the property of the Municipality.
They claim that there are no elements of a criminal act
Vlaović claims that in connection with the agreement on the termination of the bot arrangement, there are no elements of a criminal offense or any other offense because otherwise they would not have entered into such a business.
"I want to note that delaying payment without valid reasons is very irresponsible because it carries interest and costs for the state, for which the state officials who disputed this contract should be held responsible," said Vlaović.
Case before Judge Vladimir Bulatović
"Vijesti" was told yesterday by the Commercial Court that the hearing on the lawsuit filed by the company "Univerzal Monte" against the State of Montenegro - Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare is scheduled for February 28 this year.
"The case files (after the termination of office of the previously acting judge) are now in charge of a judge Vladimir Bulatović and in the case in question he is now acting as acting judge", explained the Commercial Court.
"Vijesti" was told last week by the SDT that a criminal case has been established in this case in order to determine the existence of grounds for suspicion that a criminal offense has been committed, for which it is prosecuted ex officio within the actual competence of this prosecution.
"The investigation is ongoing, and the SDT is monitoring the state of the litigation before the Commercial Court of Montenegro, between the parties to the agreement, because the outcome of the litigation is also important for the decision of the state prosecutor, and it has also obtained the opinion of the protector of the property and legal interests of Montenegro", in order to make a decision. explained the state prosecutor and SDT spokesman Vukas Radonjic.
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