Dusan Bajatovic, CEO of Srbijagas - I am wherever problems are

(Dusan Bajatovic)

Although he is rarely shot by Cupid's arrows, one called Azotara could wound him seriously.

Dusan Bajatovic, CEO of Srbijagas (reappointed in December 2012), vice president of SPS, member of the Serbian parliament, has been recently speculated to be under investigation regarding the Azotara Pancevo fertilizer plant and frauds in the resale of the borrowed mercantile wheat, which caused an EUR 18 million damage to that company.

In a comment on the insinuations about his arrest, this passionate hunter says:

- My biggest problem was my interference with my job. Whatever happens, I will not use my parliamentary immunity, it is not my style. Whoever breaks the law should be punished.

Bajatovic is not much concerned, at least for now, with how to justify suspicious trade transactions - the sale of wheat at a price much below the purchase price.

- The only thing that is important is that Azotara is today in operation and that its workers receive salaries - the CEO of Srbijagas says and stresses that Azotara has profited from that deal.

He became a tycoon of government companies, as he calls himself jokingly, at the moment when the government assessed he could be the one to rescue most of the fallen state-owned companies. The fact that he was first congratulated by Mirko Cvetkovic confirms that he has proved to be successful in managing these companies.

Cvetkovic, who was the prime minister at the time, cited the Serbian Glass Factory in Paracin as an example of successful sale, pointing out that thanks to Bajatovic's engagement, the problems of Azotara and MSK in Kikinda would be solved in a similar way.

Although he claims "I am wherever problems are," when it comes to gas, there is no problem with heating with Bajatovic around. Not only will the apartments and heating plants consuming gas stay warm this winter, despite the fact that Srbijagas supplies this fuel at up to 30 percent lower price, but the construction of South Stream gas pipeline through Serbia will also start soon, with Bajatovic ceremoniously putting the first shovel in the ground.

Bajatovic was also earlier criticized for giving jobs at Srbijagas to tens of new workers, including members of the families of Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic, without holding a competition.

As he himself admitted, he hired them without holding a public competition, noting that "our people in the Hague must have a peace of mind and their families matter to them."

He was also an eyesore to many people ever since he sat in the "hot" chair at Srbijagas because his monthly income exceeds EUR 10,000, about EUR 9,000 of which is paid by Jugorosgas. He donated the money he receives for being a member of the Managing Board of that company to socially endangered families, which nobody else did before him.

Dusan Bajatovic was born in Ravno Selo near Vrbas in 1967. He is a graduate economist and electrical engineer. He was also the chairman of the Defense and Security Board. Serbian Patriarch Irinej decorated him in 2011 with the Order of Czar Constantine "for his selfless love and ardor towards the Serbian Orthodox Church."

When asked why he is the most desirable bachelor, he replies: "It is definitely not because I'm handsome."

(Note: this complete text is taken from the Politika daily of 2 December 2012)