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RIGA - Chairman of Latvia’s First Party/Latvia’s Way and ex-Transport Minister Ainars Slesers says that it is high time that the conclusion of the Prosecutor-General’s Office about the airBaltic shareholders’ agreements is revealed, reports news agency LETA.

The disclosure of the information is essential due to the conclusion of the State Chancellery. It states that the shareholders’ agreement, drawn up during Slesers’ term of office, significantly increased the influence of the state in the national airline, although Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) and Economy Minister Artis Kampars (Unity) declare the contrary.

According to Slesers, the Chancellery concluded that Slesers not only averted private stockholder’s rights to take control of airBaltic, but also ensured that the company is not allowed to make any essential decisions without the approval of the state.
Slesers also emphasizes that on April 30, 2010, Dombrovskis’ government invested 15 million lats (21.4 million euros) in the company and placed a new shareholders’ agreement. “It has all been stipulated in articles 12.1. and 19.6., which state that the current contract replaces all previous agreements. It means that Dombrovskis’ government placed a new contract and invested 15 million lats in the company, but Unity politicians only talk about Slesers’ agreement,” he said.

“It shows that Dombrovskis either does not read or acquaint himself with relevant government documents, or, as Unity tends to do, involves law enforcement agencies, particularly the Prosecutor General’s Office, so as to eliminate his mistakes,” complained Slesers.

The Latvian state has been a shareholder of airBaltic since 2002, as the State Chancellery lawyer Ivars Mekons attested.