Dimitrioska Kochoska: For zero euros we have indebted the state, the Fiscal Council calculated public debt based on media information

At this point we have indebted the state for zero euros. The Fiscal Public Debt Council made calculations based on what he had as media information, Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrioska Kochoska said today. As he pointed out, answering journalist questions, the additional public debt is created by the project with Bechtel and Enka at which the government is now focused.

Dimitrioska Kochoska is clear that the debt is registered at the moment when the loan is withdrawn. As will be paid and as the realization and implementation go, there will be an increase in public debt, but at the same time, it does not mean that there will be an increase in regular annual repayments, and thus the debt is reduced.

According to the minister, the opposition is damaging the country with the comments it makes for public debt that are « unreal and false facts and manipulations ». She appeals not to speculate on why, noted, the situation is under control both in terms of public debt and the budget.

-The Fiscal Council made calculations based on what he had as media information. We have done calculations based on what we have as data from the information of the Government and what the Prime Minister is constantly communicating. And we must stick to what the prime minister is saying and what the government has voted. It should take a certain period first while all the procedures are completed, so the contract will be concluded, so the realization will begin. It doesn’t go overnight. We have another project to be completed, that is the project with Bechtel and Enka. Now we are currently focused on that part and I can say that it creates an additional public debt that we did not listen to them a few years ago when we said they didn’t borrow. We did not say that our debt increased by 1.3 billion, as we cannot say that we are borrowing for two or five billion. We register the debt as we withdraw from the loan. How we will pay and how the implementation and implementation will go, so there will be an increase in public debt, but at the same time, it does not mean that we will increase because on the other hand, we have regular annual repayments and debt reduction- the Minister said after the presentation of the agreement on funding the joint activities organized by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

She recalled that in 2016 public debt was between 23 and 26 percent of GDP.

-Overall 47.7 % I think the public debt was when the government changed in 2017, and when the government changed in 2024 public debt was already over 60 percent. They should all realize that we have no room for comfort, on the contrary. I am the only minister who has managed and tries to reduce or keep the public debt controlled and with such comments made by the opposition, they do not facilitate the job because the figures confirm what we are doing- underlined Dimitrioska Kochoska.

According to her, it should be talked about when it comes to the cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom.

-First, we do not take the loan from the UK. Things have really changed a lot in the way they communicate. We have concluded a cooperation agreement with the UK where the British Export Bank is the one to guarantee that if we do not repay the loan, they will repay it on our behalf, which essentially means our credit rating is somehow improving it to get lower interest rates. The essence and connection between us and the British bank is in that part. From where we get an offer we will see, it is yet to come. Public debt will be as much as it is spent every year and withdraw for the realization of the project. I try not to react to all the comments more than the opposition, but I do not understand how anyone can come out and say that we have now borrowed the state for five billion euros. At this point we have indebted the state for zero, now we start and see what the offers will be. When offering, there should be a procedure, a contract should be concluded. We now only provide funding. Such is the procedure when a project in the country begins. All projects are like that – the minister explained.