Agency: Attempts are being made to harm the mayor and his associates

The Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica responded to the contribution broadcast on TV Vijesti on September 26, which refers to the reconstruction of the streets of 18 July, Veliša Mugoša and Vuk Karadžić, saying that an absolute falsehood, "tendentially and extremely maliciously announced in the mentioned attachment, that the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica selected the contractor (the company Tošković doo) in violation of the legal rules and procedures on a public call".

"As part of the submission of bids for the implementation of the mentioned projects, this company submitted all the necessary documentation, including a certificate, certified by the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, that its official representative Ivica Tošković is not in the criminal records of convicted persons. Moreover, despite the fact that several companies submitted bids for all three tenders, there were no appeals against the Agency's decisions. And yet, in order to create the impression of alleged illegality in the actions of the authorities of the Capital City, the NGO MANS and then the author of the contribution (who, although bound by professional standards, did not previously request a statement from the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica) aware that the tender procedure was carried out in full accordance with the Law on Public Procurement, emphasize the moment of signing the contract on the implementation of these works, which, in the mentioned context, is completely irrelevant. With the same intention, omitting important facts that were available to the NGO MANS, since the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica had previously informed her in detail about this, the author of the contribution deals with the reasons for breaking the agreed deadlines for the implementation of the mentioned projects. The Law on Spatial Planning and Building Construction recognizes the concept of unforeseen works that can significantly affect the length of the execution of the contracted work. On the other hand, the Law on Public Procurement does not recognize the breach of agreed deadlines from previously concluded contracts as an elimination factor when engaging potential bidders from the public procurement procedure. In this regard, it is completely clear to anyone who, unlike the NGO MANS and TV Vijesti, has no ill will towards the Capital City, that, to the greatest extent, the slower implementation of these three projects was influenced by circumstances that were not known at the time of setting the deadlines ", says the Agency's response.

It is known, as they added, that the works on the reconstruction of 18. July Street were delayed at the very beginning due to the epidemiological situation in Montenegro. "After the start of the works, as is often the case with similar projects on the territory of the Capital City, underground installations were found that were not recorded in the cadastres of the competent companies, which resulted in manual excavation and discovery of the installations, and thus the modification of technical solutions. Additionally the delay was caused by the requests of a number of residents of 18. July Street to connect to the newly constructed sewer system, which was granted so that the street would not be dug up later."

When it comes to the works on the reconstruction of Veliše Mugoše Street, which are being carried out at the foot of the Gorica hill, the Agency states that the works were slowed down by the fact that the excavations were carried out in the rock mass, the presence of a large number of residential buildings, then gardens and fences, which according to the current It was necessary for the DUP to remove it for the construction of water pipes and sidewalks, "which was met with resistance from a number of tenants, and which ultimately resulted in the project being changed". "Later, the project was changed once again due to the impossibility of carrying out the expropriation procedure in the part of the route where the Embassy and Consulate of the Russian Federation are located," the response added.

In connection with the reconstruction of Vuk Karadžića street, apart from the aforementioned reasons, the agency states, the slow implementation of the project was also influenced by the temporary closure of a quarry in Italy, from which, according to the project, the procurement of decorative stone for paving pavement surfaces was foreseen.

"From the above, it clearly follows that the NGO MANS and the media concern Vijesti continue with attempts to misinform the public in order to harm the mayor of the Capital City and his closest associates. In the relentless pursuit of a sensationalist headline that should discredit the city administration, these two organizations continue to brutally trample ethical and professional principles on which the activities of the non-governmental sector and independent media are based. The goal is absolutely clear - to create the impression in the public that the leaders of the Capital City are working against the law and the general interest and, in this way, to influence change, for the NGO MANS and Vijesti very unpleasant political situation in Podgorica," the Agency assessed.

The Administration of the Capital City will, as they point out, continue to work in the best interest of its residents. "Unlike certain actors on the socio-political scene of Montenegro, who with their statements in the past few days confirm what the entire country has known for years, we will not pay racketeering to the Vijesti media concern as before. During the coming days, we will inform the representatives of the international community in detail Montenegro about the activities of the NGO MANS, which is in complete contrast to the role of the non-governmental sector in all democratic societies of the world," the reaction concludes.