Skopje, 10 July 2023 (MIA) – The total claims in the arbitration proceedings led against the state stand at EUR 1.36 billion without default interest. Seven proceedings are active and are led by the Coordination Body for Monitoring Arbitration Proceedings. Two of them are considered to have ended successfully, while the rest are in various stages of procedure.

The dispute with Italian company “Inso Sistemi”, with which a contract was signed for the construction of a Clinical Center by former Minister of Health Nikola Todorov, is in initial stage. The contract was unilaterally terminated in 2018, as a result of which the company seeks compensation of USD 18.9 million.

The state also owes compensation to Greek company “Hellenic Petroleum” which sought USD 42 million, but the Arbitration Court ordered the state to pay USD 21 million, i.e., half of the company’s demands. 

The largest and longest dispute is the one initiated by Slovenian national Blažo Tasev, who asks for EUR 492 million in compensation for an alleged unfounded expropriation of the Sasa mine.

The dispute initiated by the Skubenko Family, as part of which they’re seeking EUR 77 million in compensation related to the concession of the Kazandol mine complex, is also an ongoing proceeding. The proceeding was launched after the negative referendum in 2017, as part of which the inhabitants voted against the opening of the complex.

The first proceeding won by the state is the dispute with Cunico Resources from December 21, 2017, as part of which the state was sued on the basis that it illegally initiated a bankruptcy procedure for “Feni”. As a result of the proceeding, the state was paid USD 3 million in 2020.

The dispute with “Binami” from August 3, 2017, over the concession of the mines in Zletovo, is also assessed by the body to have ended positively. The company withdrew the lawsuit, as a result of which the Arbitration Court ordered that the state is paid court expenses of EUR 650.000 and EUR 123.000 in attorney tax.

Regarding the selection of law firms hired in the procedures, and why they don’t include Macedonian firms, the Coordination Body said the firms are selected from the list of best ranked international firms, which does not include Macedonian law firms.

Photo: MIA Archive