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TRANSITION
Jump to full article: FreeSerbia, 2001-08-23
Author: Boris Milicevic
Intro: Prime Minister Djindjic announced the good news: British American Tobacco is building a tobacco factory in Kragujevac, Sumadija, the home of the now defunct Zastava car factory. The bad part is that this multinational is charged with grave criminal misconduct all over the world. . .
BAT's problems in Britain don't end with the report of the parliamentary committee. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched an investigation into allegations that BAT is involved in smuggling. "I have given careful consideration to the unanimous recommendation of the select committee that the DTI should investigate the allegations of BAT's involvement in smuggling. I have decided to appoint investigators to look into this and to report back to me as soon as possible. I will then decide what further steps I must take," said trade and industry secretary Stephen Byers. Among those certain to be questioned are managing director Ulrich Herter and finance director Keith Dunt, as well as CEO Martin Broughton (who happens to be a non-smoker) and former Tory health secretary and BAT deputy chairman Kenneth Clarke.
In the end, one cannot help but wonder what could have made a company that spends 200 million DM annually just to settle legal suits all over the world, a strategic partner of the Serbian government. This question remains unanswered. May the case of Peter Hess the speaker of the Swiss parliament serve as a warning to our politicians.
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