SLOVAKIA’s Economy Minister Pavol Rusko said he would begin expropriation procedures "immediately" unless a deal was reached on June 8 with owners of the land on which Kia Motors plans to build a new plant near the northern city of Žilina, the news wire TASR wrote.
The minister issued his warning ahead of meeting with local councillors and representatives of thousands of the smallholders to whom the site belongs.
Many of the owners are unhappy with the price being offered for the land.
Expropriation could prolong the launch of construction by five to six months, but the government has promised to hand the levelled site to Kia by August 31.
Rusko said that it was already impossible to meet this deadline.
"Although the contract [with Kia] does not explicitly mention any fines, Kia may ask for indemnity due to a unilateral breach of the terms," he said.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
8. Jun 2004 at 9:43
