Nearly a decade is needed to complete concession tourist complex "Brezovica" located in the municipality of Strpce. This project was finalized this week, after the Kosovo government has signed a contract with the winning consortium.
Preparations for this process had started since 2006, the Kosovo Trust Agency. However, problems initially launched by residents of this area, the fact that Brezovica is in an area inhabited by Serb majority and the intervention of Belgrade.
While residents of the municipality of Strpce and Belgrade officials tried to obstruct the process, the competent authorities stated that "privatization or concession should happen, despite the fact that the municipality found that social enterprises".
Suspensions of the project for these reasons did not fail, citing sometimes a problem in the world and the unresolved status of Kosovo.
Complex "Brezovica" is one of the biggest tourist potential that Kosovo, as the center of summer and winter tourism.
This center was built in 1970 and since then there has been no investment in its maintenance.
For this reason, government officials, experts on tourism and the economy, considering that the concession of the center would affect the economic revival of the region, but also the overall economy.
In 2008, Kosovo was declared independent state, where at the time of the Ahtisaari plan, Kosovo Trust Agency extinguished and create new Kosovo Agency for Privatization.
The latter, preparations did not stop ever, with all the problems evident in this process. Even the leader of this agency again warned that concession will occur in 2010.
In that world, this statement for Radio Free Europe, he said the former deputy director of the KPA, Leonora Bicaj, claiming that political problems are avoided.
"In the past there were such issues, and have usually been the result of different political interference outside our control".
"As an independent agency we are, following such interferences are neutralized in the first beginnings. Our legal mandate is clear, and the ultimate end the privatization of all public properties and their assets in Kosovo's constitutional mandate, "said Bicaj.
But this year concession failed, but following the preparation of a master plan by the European Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo, the economic recovery in order to become more attractive to foreign investors tourist complex.
A year later, the authorities raised objections to Serbia for the privatization process in Kosovo.
In 2012, the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government had submitted the request to the Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of privatization in the entire territory of Kosovo since 1999 until 2012.
Whereas the competent authorities in Pristina recall Serbian state that "no right to contest the privatization of public enterprises in Kosovo".
According to the Constitution of Kosovo and the Ahtisaari package, the Republic of Kosovo has its owned enterprises in its territory that are publicly owned.
Even the statements of Serbian officials, officers of the KPA called the empty statement.
In early 2012, inter-ministerial Steering Committee for the project Brezovica, had announced the possibility of expressions of interest to identify investors for the project.
Now, a year later, became public five companies and consortia that expressed interest in taking in use for 99 years, the complex "Brezovica". Among the bidders was a tourist companies from Serbia.
These companies, according to the competent authorities, possessed the capacity necessary to design, finance and build a center for mountain tourism and recreation throughout the year for local and international visitors.
But tourism experts considered not as attractive company.
Meanwhile, last year when the company was declared the winner expected in Kosovo were holding general elections. Six-month political stalemate to the formation of the new government, has forced the competent authorities already Ministry of Trade and Industry to suspend the announcement of the final concession contract.
However, in December last year the French consortium MDP Consulting -Compagnie des Alpes was declared the winner, with a price of 409 million euros, of which 165 million are expected to be invested in the first three years, and has promised to create 4000 new jobs.
In investment envisaged expansion or creation of world-class trails skiing, longer than 100 km (the longest in the Balkans), equipped with 20 modern lifts and other equipment, safety standards and highest quality region.
During the contract signing on Wednesday of this week, the Minister of Trade and Industry, said Bajrami Lancers concession of this project will affect the overall economic development of both will have positive impacts on other international investors.
"The project will have an impact on economic development, primarily in the municipality of Strpce, but in general will positively influence the economic development of Kosovo," said Eid.
Whereas, the official representative of the French Kozorciumit Pascal Roux, said that Brezovica will be built in a way that will be usable during 12 months of the year.
"This is definitely big project for Kosovo and we are very proud that we may do it. This project is more than a ski resort. It will be a mountain resort which means that we have a project for four seasons, which will be attractive all the time. We are committed to these resorts are world class, fulfilling the international standards, "said Roux.
Otherwise, according to an estimate, Brezovica amount of snow for 151 days a year, which represents the largest amount compared to all other country-skiing in Europe.
Located at an altitude of 900 to 2.522 meters, with an area of 2,500 hectares and is only 60 kilometers away from Pristina International Airport. /04Portal /