State could now move to privatize mining complex in Kosovo

State could now move to privatize mining complex in Kosovo

BELGRADE -- Unless the Kosovo institutions abandon their intention to take over Trepca, Serbia will begin the privatization of the company, it has been announced.

Serbian Economy Minister Zeljko Sertic also said that Belgrade previously "withdrew and delayed until further notice" all decisions regarding privatizations of companies that the state owns in Kosovo and Metohija, and that this was done "in order to continue the Brussles talks, to talk about the issue of ownership on a good basis."

He also told the state broadcaster RTS that there was "an agreement to negotiate about this on a different level, as the talks continue."

"This is a crude violation of all procedures and regulations," Sertic said ahead of a session of the Kosovo assembly on Monday that is supposed to consider, in urgent procedure, a draft sent by the government in Pristina that would allow it to take over the mining complex.

Sertic warned that such behavior "can create unforeseeable consequences for the relations between the two communities, and above all to the economic and everyday life of the people in northern Kosovo."

The minister noted that four letters of interest arrived previously in the Trepca privatization process and that interest was shown by companies from the U.S., Canada, Switzerland and Hungary, "countries where property relations are exceptionally respected." There are also two domestic companies that are interested in buying Trepca, he revealed.

Noting that there was no dilemma as to who legally owns the mines, Sertic explained that the Serbian state-run Fund for Development owns 56 percent of Trepca, and that 22 percent is held by various Serbian companies...