The second installment of the loan in the amount of EUR 316,8 thousand, for which the Government guaranteed to the German Development Bank (KfW) for the implementation of the water supply and waste water drainage project for the Municipality of Ulcinj, was paid from the state budget, so it is currently the local government's debt on that basis according to the state, increased to more than 1,2 million euros, it was confirmed unofficially by "News" in the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare.
The project has not yet started to be realized, which was supposed to be more than five years ago, while loan repayment installments arrive at half-yearly intervals.
The municipality of Ulcinj did not return the first installment of 933,5 thousand euros to the state treasury, although it had the obligation to do so by June 29 last year. That installment was paid from the state treasury on the basis of a loan agreement in the amount of 36 million for the water supply and waste water removal project for the Montenegrin coast, of which 20 million related to the Municipality of Ulcinj, which the Ministry of Finance, Tivat Vodacom and KfW Bank concluded in 2013.
Two years later, the Ministry of Finance concluded an agreement with the Municipality of Ulcinj on a sub-credit, i.e. forwarding money. According to that contract, the Municipality is obliged to pay each due installment to the main state treasury account according to the established repayment plan.
The Ministry of Finance, which is headed by Minister Milojko Spajić, according to the knowledge of "Vijesti", has officially informed the Municipality of Ulcinj about the obligations based on those installments that should be paid into the budget. In that Government department, they emphasize that they and the Government have shown understanding for the financial situation of the Municipality of Ulcinj.
The implementation of the project, in which the local government broke through the five-year grace period, has not yet started, nor is it certain when it could happen since the expropriation has not been carried out.
Out of the contracted 20 million euros, the Municipality of Ulcinj has withdrawn 1.318.204,52 euros so far, and the debt to the state, according to "Vijesti" information, is for the time being the amount of money withdrawn. The municipality paid KfW Bank a mandatory risk fee in the amount of EUR 140.
From the first installment, which was paid by the Ministry of Finance, 900 thousand euros represented the principal, 10,67 thousand interest, while the rest refers to other expenses.
Former Minister of Finance Darko Radunović, two years ago in a letter warned the then President of the Municipality Ljor Nrekić that the Government, if the local government does not project the amount of 2020 million euros in the budget for 2,6 as the equivalent of undrawn money from KFW Bank, will exit the credit arrangement for the southernmost municipality.
Radunović then reminded Nrekić that the state paid a little more than 347 thousand euros for regular compensation for undrawn money. The municipality of Ulcinj then expressed its readiness to continue the project, and after the expiration of the loan availability period, determine the amount of compensation that should be provided for extending the loan availability.
SDT seized the documentation and took over the case?
"Vijesti" announced at the beginning of May last year that inspectors of the criminal police were checking whether and to what extent states and municipalities were damaged by the non-withdrawal of loans from KfW.
One of the sources of "Vijesti" unofficially confirmed yesterday that the team of the Special State Prosecutor's Office took over the case and that certain documents were exempted.
Due to this project, in the parliament of Ulcinj, at the end of September last year, a survey committee was formed to examine the details of this work and the possible responsibility of individuals due to the delay in the implementation of the project.
This committee was supposed to submit a report to the local parliament before the New Year, but committee coordinator Naser Resulbegović (SDP) requested that the deadline for submitting the report be extended for a month. This is because they still do not have feedback from the Real Estate Administration and the Secretariat for Property Protection regarding the expropriation of land on the planned routes.
He confirmed to "Vijesta" that the Ministry of Finance and the Municipality of Ulcinj agreed to postpone the deadline for withdrawing money by four years. The first term expired at the end of 2020.
Resulbegović previously told "Vijesta" that according to his knowledge, the report of the Commission for Supervision and Monitoring of the Realization of Loan Money for six years was never on the agenda of the session of the local parliament.
The commission of nine members was formed by the local parliament in October 2015, and in the decision on its formation it is written that the money for its work falls on the budget of the Municipality.
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