Skopje, 19 May 2023 (MIA) - Following Friday's meeting with coalition party leaders, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said the analysis by the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption will show that the construction of Corridors 8 and 10d is the biggest infrastructure project. 

"I believe the analysis will show what we have been saying and what I said a little while ago, that this is the biggest infrastructure project. Based on what they will analyze they will give their opinion, and what opinion they will have I cannot say because it is still their analysis," said Kovachevski. 

Noting the interview with the U.S. Ambassador to the country, Angela Aggeler, that Bechtel operates transparently and fully above board, the PM said it was the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the country. 

"It is the biggest infrastructure project. The project was adopted in accordance with the law. In accordance with the law, the MPs have chosen the project Corridor 8 and Corridor 10d to be constructed by the world's largest U.S.-Turkish consortium "Bechtel and Enka". The procedure has been observed in line with the law through a steering committee, including all procedures, and it is an exceptionally legal project with which includes all required phases. This is also the message of the U.S. Ambassador," Kovachevski said. 

He pointed out that what had happened over the recent period has been hysteria based on no argument against the work of the Government by the opposition.

"When you look back now on what we heard for 30-40 days, you will see that there is not a single argument. These are unsubstantiated accusations. The project has already started. The company is already working on staffing, biomechanical research has begun, teams are already being set up. I believe that during the summer they will start work on the ground, and it is really a project that will have a 2 percent positive effect on GDP, 8,000 jobs, 51 percent of the financial resources according to the agreement will be made through Macedonian companies, which means that we will have increased employment, all which will eventually result in a modern highway that has never existed, neither between Prilep and Bitola, nor with the border with Albania. This is how a modern state is built. A modern and successful state is not built with blockades in the Parliament. For two years, they have been blocking the Parliament with no arguments," Kovachevski said.  

The anti-corruption commission has received the agreement signed with U.S.-Turkish consortium "Bechtel-Enka" as part of the case it opened over the project for construction of Corridors 8 and 10d following media reports on the selection of oversight companies.

"We asked for the agreement, we received it and we are working on all documents and the analysis is ongoing," said anti-corruption commission chair Biljana Ivanovska on Friday.

Photo: MIA