Albania-Kosovo road price skyrockets to over 1 billion euros
The cost of the 61 km-long highway section between the Albanian port of Durres and the Serbian province of Kosovo is costing the government in Tirana over billion euros, according to the charges filed against Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, December 12, 2008
Basha, who has been charged with the abuse of power and breaking tender rules relating to the construction project and risks up to 12 years in prison, has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the accusations against him are politically motivated.
The abuse in the case is thought to have cost Albanian taxpayers something in the range of €230 million.
Prosecutor General Ina Rama has been probing alleged irregularities in the tender for the construction of the highway won by the American-Turkish consortium, Bechtel-Enka for more than 17 months.
The charges relate to the time when Basha was Transport Minister. Basha's immunity was lifted by parliament at the end of December last year.
