Audit of state-owned property management under way

BELGRADE - The National Audit Office (DRI) has initiated the second audit of performance relating to the management of property owned by the Republic of Serbia.

Radoslav Sretenovic, chairman of the DRI, said that so far the audit has shown that the government does not have uniform records on property.

There are numerous reasons for this, he said, adding that in 2012 the value of property was underestimated by EUR 13 billion, he said.

"This audit will provide us with answers to the questions of responsibility for keeping records and managing property owned by the Republic of Serbia, whether Serbia has established a comprehensive and uniform record keeping of the state-owned property, the manner in which competent bodies are managing real estate and whether revenues in this respect can be increased," Sretenovic said.

The audit should determine which measures have been taken by competent bodies so as to ensure monitoring over the state-owned property.

"The goal is to get a comprehensive insight into the facts relating to the state-owned property so as to ensure proper managing of the property owned by the Republic of Serbia," Sretenovic said.

This can be achieved by establishing uniform, complete and up-to-date records on the state-owned real estate and its transparent use, he said.

The second audit of performance should be completed by mid-2015.

The first audit of performance carried out by the DRI referred to the use of public sector vehicles.

Photo Tanjug, R. Prelic (archive)