Skopje, 10 July 2024 (MIA) - To publish the contract with Bechtel-Enka for the construction of motorway sections from Corridors VIII and X-d, which is classified as a state secret, we would need approval from both sides. Our main goal will be to maximize the kilometers of motorway we get from the contract, Deputy Prime Minister on economic affairs and Minister of Transport and Communications Aleksandar Nikoloski said Wednesday.

“The public should know that the contract is classified as a state secret, which, according to my humble legal knowledge of the matter, I don’t think is in accordance with the law, because it is very clear what can be classified as a state secret in Macedonia. I assume the idea of the partner on the other side was to sign a classic (English) contract or a contract in which details aren’t exposed to the competition, but that’s one thing, it’s a completely different thing to sign a classified contract which has caused confusion around it,” Nikoloski said.

The Minister said he met with representatives of the consortium and told them the contract should be declassified.

“Unfortunately, both parties need to approve this, and I hope they give their approval so we can declassify it and make it possible for the public to see the contract,” Nikoloski said.

According to Nikoloski, what matters is what the country can get from the contract, i.e., get more kilometers of motorway for the same cost.

“That will be our main fight in the years to come – get more kilometers of motorway within the same financial sum that has been agreed. The public should know that the previous SDSM and DUI Government has already paid out EUR 240 million to the contractor for literally nothing, i.e., for so-called preparatory works that we aren’t seeing, and I think it would be irresponsible towards the Macedonian budget for me to scrap the contract now, without being able to retrieve the funds already paid out... So, I think the right approach is to fight, to gain as many kilometers of motorway as possible, and to build as soon as possible in Macedonia,” Nikoloski said. 

Photo: MIA Archive