Transport minister looking for answers in Okecie tender

In light of allegations that the tender for the construction of Okecie airport's second terminal, a contract worth between zl.300 million and zl.400 million, one of the largest in Central Europe, was not conducted fairly, the Transport Minister Jerzy Widzyk has made a formal request to the prosecutor's office in Warsaw to investigate the particulars of the tender, Gazeta Wyborcza has learned. Despite one tender commission member' s claims that foul play was involved in the deal, Widzyk has made assurances that the commission is doing its job competently. Justice Minister Lech Kaczynski said the investigation would be initiated due to "threats of bribery". Kaczynski also indicated that "certain services" might be responsible for corruption, possibly a reference to the country's intelligence services. Maciej Kalita, head of Porty Lotnicze, the tender administrator, has confirmed that a shortlist of seven companies, narrowed down from 14, have been invited to submit detailed offers.(Reuters, Gazeta Wyborcza, p.3; Rzeczpospolita, p.A4)