Merko to give library tender another shot

  • 2008-04-03
  • From wire reports
TALLINN - Merko Ehitus, the largest construction firm in the Baltics, has said it would attempt to participate in a tender for building Latvia's new national library despite having been excluded.
The government agency organizing the tender, Jaunie Tris Brali (The New Three Brothers), recently informed the Estonian firm that it was excluded from bidding due to a pending criminal case against the company on charges of bribery.

Merko Ehitus CEO Tonu Toomik said that the company sent a letter to the Latvian government and Jaunie Tris Brali expressing its wish to take part in the tender.
"We are still interested in participating in this tender so the tender organizers have a real alternative. And secondly, we are still prepared to sign a contract with a price tag of 87 million lats (124 million euros), as calculated by us," Toomik said.
He said the company's board has not made up its mind whether to sue the Latvian agency.
"We don't want to go to court 's we'd rather build. Our legal advisers think we have enough arguments for our offer at least to be heard," the chief executive said.

Merko executives have repeatedly stated that they're innocent of graft and the company should not be excluded from the tender because of suspicions.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said at a press conference on March 27 that he had expressed support for Merko Ehitus in a conversation with his Latvian colleague, Ivars Godmanis.
"I've assured the Latvian prime minister that Merko can participate in all public procurement tenders in Estonia and that no restrictions have been set in this respect," Ansip said.
The prime minister said he categorically refuted allegations in Latvia's media that Merko was a criminal organization.

"Nobody is guilty until convicted by a court," he added.
According to Ansip, Godmanis said that media speculation would not influence the outcome of the library tender.
Ansip stressed that there was not much the Estonian state can do for Merko.
Merko Ehitus posted turnover of 5.5 billion kroons (351.4 million euros) in 2007.