National Library builders have not been fully paid

Some of the companies that built the National Library in Minsk two years ago have not yet been paid under contracts. The contractor promises to settle debts in late 2009.   Two years ago, Prime Minister Syarhey Sidorski signed a paper that called for the full settlement with subcontractors before June 10, 2006. Two years later, seven companies appealed to Pyotr Salamukha, a member of the House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly, for assistance in recovering a debt of 614.9 million rubels (about $300,000). The companies that demand payment include Praftekhmantazh, Navapolatsk-based Naftazavodmantazh, and Mahilyoutekhmantazh, a company that installed huge exterior glass sheets. A lawyer with Naftazavodmantazh confirmed to Euroradio that the company has not yet been paid. "They [the contractor] have not paid us, it is true. They have sent us a letter because we appealed to a member of parliament. They had to reply. They promise the money in November 2009," he said. A manager with Praftekhmantazh said that Bialtekhpram, the company that owes the money, has been declared bankrupt. It has cleared most of its debts to the government but still owes to the seven companies that provided services on credit. The Naftazavodmantazh lawyer explained that Budtrest 7, the general contractor, failed to pay out an amount due to Bialtekhpram, a subcontractor, and the latter went bust. "Bialtekhpram asked the Minsk Economic Court to order that Budtrest 7 pay out 75 percent of the debt totaling 846 million, but the Economic Court threw out the request," the lawyer said. Bialtekhpram's property has been sold for 28 million rubels. It owes 614.9 million rubels to the creditors. Budtrest 7 owes 846 million rubels that are to be distributed among the creditors.

Photo: Salidarnasts