Kosovo: Pečka Bewery three times undersold

Chief of the Serbian economic team for the Kosovo status talks, Nenad Popović, said that the Pečka Brewery was privatised for three times less than it is realistically worth, B92 informed July 10.

The brewery was sold for €11.13 million to one of the founders and main financers of the Kosovo Liberation Army, who is now the owner of Peč beer company Ekrem Luka.

Popović, chief of the Serbian economic team for the Kosovo status talks, said that the statements from United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) that this represents a step ahead in the privatisation process in Kosovo do not have any economic grounds and are economical absurdities.

“This is the most typical example of disrespectful and economically unwarranted privatisation.” Popović said.

“Albanians must stand against the selling of companies for low prices because the decision on the status of Kosovo and the creation of conditions for large foreign investments in companies will enable them to be sold for three times the price. I have met with international experts. They believe that the selling of Kosovo companies to businesspeople that are unknown in these fields in European and international circles is an economically unwarranted decision and they were befuddled by the price of 11 million euros.” Popović said.

He also added that the international community has called for the protection of Serbian workers and bringing the privatisation process to a halt until the Kosovo status problem is resolved.

12 July, 2006