12/6/2007

Connection with Dušan Muňko Has Never Been an Advantage for J&T Group

A family relation of Martin Fedor, J&T partner, with Dušan Muňko, state secretary of the Ministry of Environment, has never brought any advantage for J&T. On the contrary, the government in which Dušan Muňko is a member, suspended privatisations for almost 30 billion Crowns, where J

An article in PRAVDA daily, which "discovered" this connection is a regretful example of manipulating public opinion, when an author develops a theory and uses mostly such arguments that support the theory and conceal arguments that speak against it.

Martin Fedor is responsible in J&T for corporate investments that include participation in tenders concerning privatisation of the Bratislava Airport and ZSSK Cargo. Consortia with participation of J&T practically won both tenders, worth cumulatively almost 30 billion Crowns, but the government suspended the privatisation in both cases.

Real estate development and projects in the Tatra Mountains fall under the competence of J&T partners Peter Korbačka and Igor Rattaj.

Key limits and documents for reconstruction of resorts in the High Tatras belonging to J&T were successfully negotiated during the term of the former government with the former management of the Tatra National Park (TANAP).

"Nature conservationists in the High Tatras were able to reach an agreement only with the developer operating in Tatranská Lomnica. They will not build any new skiing tracks, only improve the existing ones," Pravda quotes Tomáš Vančura, the former TANAP director on 5 November. ,,And this is how the developer from Lomnica shows off that in spite of business interests, they were true to their words and tried to be correct," adds Vančura in the same interview published in Pravda.

The statement by Pravda, that TLD opened a new skiing track in the Tatras, is a lie. Neither TLD nor any company from the J&T Group opened a new skiing track this year. J&T pursues renovation of existing tracks, resources and hotels in the Tatras.

In regards to other real estate projects, such as RIVER PARK etc., J&T obtained positive opinions again on key documents (EIA) from the relevant departments of the Ministry of Environment long before Dušan Muňko was inducted into the office of the state secretary. Furthermore, these decisions are issued by regional units, not subjected to the influence of Mr. Muňko.

Any reference to contacts of Mr. Muňko with "developers, investors..." and usage of similar universal terms without any specific definition, with which Pravda tries to make an impression of J&T group privileges, is unprofessional, incorrect and therefore unacceptable.

author: Maroš Sýkora - hovorca, vedúci oddelenia PR