SDSM’s Nikolovski, a former Agriculture Minister, said that through the mechanism for suspension of payments, a decision to suspend IPARD III program payments had been made and distributed to the authorities by the National Coordinator on Authorization.
As he pointed out, the decision entered into force right away and covers an indefinite period of time, i.e. until certain conditions and action plans are met. The decision, he also said, is a result of the bribery case involving Payment Agency Director Stoilev and four other persons.
Nikolovski urged the government to say whether its silence over the decision was an attempt to protect those involved in the “corruption scandal”.
The Finance Ministry stated afterwards that it had temporarily stopped IPARD III payments over the case, adding that the EC and services and Brussels had been notified.
“They have welcomed the decision of national structures”, the institution added.
However, Nikolovski, after the Ministry had informed about the matter, stated that that had just gone to confirm that the Government and Ministry had tried to hide the decision to suspend the IPARD program.
The EU Delegation, on its part, told the Zelena Berza (Green Stock Exchange) portal that it was welcoming the decision to suspend all IPARD III payments until circumstances in relation to the investigation were clarified.