After the fierce and public confrontation with Odysseas Michaelides, Socrates Hasikos decided to refer the matter to the KEAA for examination.
To suspend the signing of the seven-year extension of the contract with the contractor of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Unit (OEDA) of Larnaca and Famagusta Provinces (Kosia area) and to refer the whole matter to the Central Committee for Changes and Requirements. Interior Socrates Hasikos.
According to valid information of "Simerini", a meeting took place a few days ago between the Director General of the Ministry of Interior and the President of KEAA, with the former conveying to the latter the decision of the Minister to refer the file of the new agreement with contractor of OEDA Kosi to KEAA for examination, in relation to its legality.
"We will look at the changes to the contract"
The information was confirmed by the President of KEAA, Stratis Mattheou, in a statement to "Simerini", stating that "there is an agreement with the General Director of the Ministry of Interior to raise the issue for examination at the Central Committee for Changes and Requirements. He went on to say that any substantial changes or modifications to the public contract will be considered with the contractor. It is noted that the decision to be taken by KEAA on the matter is binding on the Ministry of Interior, based on the relevant regulations.
The warnings and the "bubble"
The decision of the Ministry of Interior to refer the matter to KEAA is taken a few weeks after the fierce and public controversy broke out between Socrates Hasikos and Auditor General Odysseas Michailidis, on the occasion of the latter's strong reservations regarding the latter's without tenders, in exchange for a reduction in fees. Odysseas Michailidis had suggested, among other things, to Socrates Hasikos the referral of the issue for examination to the KEAA and the European Commission. The controversy became public when "Simerini" revealed the contents of two warning letters of the Auditor General to the Minister of Interior.
The Auditor stressed in his letters the dangers that exist for the possible imposition of European fines of millions of euros against the Republic. It is noted that the Contractor of OEDA Kosi is a group of interests of a giant group in the field of waste management in Greece, of the well-known Bombola family. In statements, the Minister stated that the agreement serves the public interest, as the fees are significantly reduced and that the Auditor can not prevent it. He described the Auditor General as a "civil servant" and that he was acting like an executive. The Auditor General, who declined to comment on the characterizations, stated that the only winner of the agreement is the contractor.
It is being debated in parliament on Tuesday
The next serial between the Minister of Interior and the Auditor General on the issue, may be played next Tuesday in Parliament. As we are informed, the issue of the contract for OEDA Kosi is scheduled for discussion at the Meeting of the Audit Committee, which starts at 10:30 in the morning. Hasikos and Odysseas have been invited, among others, to participate.
The Municipalities are in favor of the agreement
Meanwhile, the Mayors of Paralimni, Ayia Napa and Sotira are requesting the immediate implementation of the new agreement for a significant reduction of the costs they will pay at the Kosi Foundry, through their announcement yesterday, warning with drastic measures. They state in the announcement that the operation of OEDA Kosi has brought our Municipalities to their knees financially and that the existing agreement was judged by all as unfair and unbalanced.
Source: Liberal