High State Audit report reveals 100 million Euro damage

TIRNA, Jan. 28 – Local media reported that recently released report by the High State Audit claims losses of some 100 million Euros during the procurement process of the Rr촨en-Kalimash segment of the Durr쳭 Kuk쳠road project.
Gazeta Shqiptare wrote that the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications and the General Department of Roads was responsible for a loss of 100 million Euros through procurement process violations to the state budget. Also, Shekulli newspaper dubbed the Rr촨en-Kalimash segment as ‘the golden segment.’
Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha, then Minister of Transport, is currently being investigated by the General Prosecutor regarding construction of the road segment. His parliamentary immunity was lifted in December. Iva Zeger of the U.S.-Turkish Bechtel-Enka group which is building the Rreshen-Kalimash road segment said in an interview to the Gazeta Shqiptare newspaper that the procurement maintained all international standards. She also denied being involved in a political fight in the country, saying her company was only involved in constructing a highway, and not involved in politics. “We have won a contract after entering an international open and qualified procurement process,” she said.