Skopje, 26 July 2023 (MIA) – The decision to merge the concessions wasn’t rejected yesterday, but instead a decision was made which invalidates the previous decision on the merging of concessions. In fact, we didn’t take away any of the concessionaire’s rights, nor have we taken away their concession, nor refused their request, we only took a step backwards. I said that yesterday, and a month ago. I respect all government decisions, it is my duty, but it is also my responsibility, as a representative of the Ministry of Economy to point to possible consequences of adopting or not adopting decisions, said Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi at a press conference Wednesday on the Ilovica-Shtuka mines.

“At the Government session yesterday we discussed this for several hours, various positions were expressed. The decision invalidating the previous decision to merge the concessions was unanimously adopted, but I abstained because I can’t, as a representative of the Economy Ministry, vote contrary to what was presented yesterday, and a month ago by the Ministry of Economy. I will respect the Government’s decision, but I have to stress that it is my duty as an Economy Minister to make sure that the legal and formal procedures are followed. We need to fully protect the interest of the citizens and of the state, and avoid stalling decisions. Now, we are practically moving backwards, the deadlines are back at the beginning. We have already taken away one concession in 2019 due to incomplete documentation after a request for a mining license. Unfortunately, that decision was dismissed by the court. The Ministry of Economy will adopt the same decision on the second concession as well, but will this solve the issue? We are not convinced that it will. By invalidating the previous decision, formally and legally we are moving back to where we were, we are not making any negative, nor positive decision,” said Bekteshi.

The Minister reiterated that the institutions should not be silent, but should adopt concrete acts so as not to leave room to the concessionaire to refer to a lack of decisions.

Our expectation, said Bekteshi, is that this decision will be disputed by the concessionaire, as is their right.

“As an institution, we will do everything to defend this decision. Although, I have to be very transparent with the public. Given the arguments I presented here and the possible legal resolution in the future, we, as a Ministry of Economy abstained from this decision yesterday. But, we are not coming out in public saying we won’t respect this decision, because we are not convinced. We will do everything in our power to defend this decision. But, all lawyers within the Ministry and external law firms say that this does not change the issue. And after this decision, the concessionaire, Euromax, will continue to hold the two concessions. And after this decision, it will have the right to resubmit its request for the merging of concessions,” underlined Bekteshi.

In answer to journalists’ questions, the Minister said that any potential new investors would have to fulfill the conditions from the new Law on Mineral Resources, which bans the use of cyanide in mining.

On June 27, 2023, the Government voted to merge the two concessions.

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