Slovenia’s Minister of Economics and Minister of the Environment have called for the cancellation of a deal to buy Finnish-made Patria armoured vehicles for the country’s armed forces.

The ministers told the Slovenian newspaper Delo that the government is considering the initiative.

The ministers have pointed to problems involving the quality and delivery of the 13 first transport vehicles, which were to have been delivered by the end of last year. However, they did not pass the quality tests, and have not reached Slovenia.

Patria told YLE on Thursday that it was unaware of any plans by the Slovenian government to cancel the deal.

Patria and Slovenia signed a deal in 2006 on the delivery of 135 vehicles for a price of 280 million euros.

Environment Minister Karl Erjavec was the Minister of Defence at the time of the deal, and both he and the present Minister of Economics Matej Lahovnik told Delo that they want to cancel the order. Slovenia’s current defence minister could not be reached for comment.

The deal has been the topic of police inquiries in both countries over suspicions of bribery.

Reuters, YLE
12.04.2009
yle.fi