The response of the Government regarding the ministers sojourning in Athens at the Olympics stipulates that all of the sojourners traveled at their own expense or at the expense of Yugoslav airlines, hence, there was no violation of the Law on conflict of interest. The Government decided to believe the subsequent information given by the ministers to disregard their first statements in the media, and even suggested that, in the future, we should disregard the individual statements, until the ministers reach an agreement. The Government statement does not offer an open explanation of why last statements from certain ministers and present Government statement differ so much.

We are different from Croatia, where President of the State did not travel to Athens because he complained to the large expenses which the state did not want or could not afford, and he did not want to pay for himself. It seams that our neighbors have, either a poor state and president, or a stingy state and president, which we find more likely to believe. We, however, live in a penniless state donated by the ministers. It is not their fault that the state is so poor as to send them on a trip without paying the tickets, whereas they pay out of their own pocket or out of the pocket of the company they manage.

After a rather cheerful letter of the Government regarding a proper behavior of the ministers, fun was spoilt by a following statement of the Government regarding the urgent implementation of the stipulated Law. For, as soon as the Government was advised from the press that the Deputy Minister for Capital Investments, Mr. Lazic was at the same time Director of “Mobtel”, he was immediately relived of his duty.

The Government had hard time compared to the case of Mr. Cvetkovic, who was simultaneously Director of the state Agency for Privatization and executive director of the private consulting company “CesMekon”, which acted as a immediate partner in a demanding state affairs. The Government realized this only after Mr. Cvetkovic left. With Mr. Lazic things were more difficult, he was blown during his term. Government, obviously, regards as irrelevant the fact that this gentlemen had a serious conflict of interest while performing his duties. What will happen with the decisions from ministry and government prepared and made by Mr. Lazic?

As a remainder. Deputy Minister for Capital Investments (at the same time Director of “Mobtel”) was a member of the Government body in charge of determining ownership relationship in “Mobtel”. The Commission made a report declaring it incomplete, because not only that “Mobtel” failed to present the documentation, but also prohibited equipment inspection. The Government, however, accepted the report, without bothering to check the documentation of the company, whose 49% are officially owned by the state.

Since at first the state accepted that Mr. Lazic adjourned his position in “Mobtel”, and that he already completed the mission given by Mr. Karic, the Government was only in a position to object to the degree of the adjournment and relieve him of his duty. The Government fells that some credit was gained on account of swift implementation of the Law against corruption. Mr. Karic, moreover, received everything else, as well as the ministers working for him. He may now finance a new campaign peacefully, not only for himself but for his ministers as well. Should there be any changes he will again offer the Government another 6% of “Mobtel”, and should they object, arbitration of Zurich. Until he becomes a Prime Minister of the Government with capital ministries only.

Ms Verica Barac,
President of the Council