Failed efforts to prevent oil company tender

TIRANA, Sep 8 – Albanian authorities made known last week they had managed to stop efforts by some officials and companies to prevent the international tender on the sale of the public ARMO oil corporation.
First, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and, then, vice Economy Minister Neritan Alibali said authorities had managed to stop efforts to interfere in the international tender.
Alibali said there had also been efforts to steal classified information, as well as bribes and threats made against tender commission members.
However, no additional details were revealed.
Albania’s ARMO public company sold an 85 percent stake, for 125 million Euros, to a consortium comprising Mercuria, Refinery Associates of Texas and Swiss-registered Anika Enterprises.