MIHAJLOVIC: The state doesn't owe a single dinar to the contractors

(Zorana Mihajlovic) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic stated on Wednesday, July 27, that the state didn`t owe a single dinar to the contractors on Corridor XI and that the section Ljig-Preljina would be open to the traffic by late August, according to the schedule.

When asked whether Corridors of Serbia had debts in the amount of EUR 26 million towards the Azerbaijan-based Azvirt, the main contractor on the section, and whether the construction work might be stopped, Mihajlovic said that nothing had been stopped and that those were not debts.

– The money is there and it is now up to the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan to approve the annex to the agreement – Mihajlovic said to the press in Cacak.

Mihajlovic said that the state, Corridors of Serbia and Roads of Serbia didn`t owe a single dinar to a single contractor.

– Nothing has been stopped and that section of Corridor XI will be opened to the traffic by the end of August. Azvirt and the Chinese Sinohydro have a consortium and we are negotiating with them about the continuation of the construction of the bypass route around Belgrade – Mihajlovic pointed out.

When asked when the section of Corridor XI from Cacak to the Montenegrin border would be built, the minister said that there were talks with the Chinese partners and companies about models of financing.

– We are still deciding on the manner of financing. This is not a busy route, but it is strategically important, as it doesn't only connect Serbia and Montenegro, but also provides access to the sea and the port. We are still negotiation whether this will be financed by a loan or if there will be a concession for at least a part of it. It's not so simple to take a loan in such a huge amount – Mihajlovic said and added that, following the formation of the new government, it would become clearer how best to procure the money for the highway.

Koridori Srbije d.o.o. Beograd

JP Putevi Srbije Beograd

Azvirt Beograd

Sinohydro Corporation Haidian District, Beijing

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

SINOHYDRO Predstavništvo Beograd

corridors

Zorana Mihajlovic

Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan

Corridor X

Corridor XI

Sinohydro

Cacak Montenegrin border corridor