Railways of Montenegro is in difficult financial situation and the reasons for that are the lack of production, disloyal competition and irregular payments from the budget payment, claims its director, Ranko Medenica. He said at today#s press conference, held on the occasion of the century of railways in Montenegro, that this situation was a constant characteristic and the only exception was 1998, when the income could cover the expenditure. "We have more freight-wagons than we need," said Medenica and thus shortly described the main problem of this public company that owns 1,034 freight wagons. He said that as long as the economy was in collapse and there was no production, turnover and thus no massive transport, the railway would continue having business problems. He said that last year the cargo transport was seven times less than in 1989 and said that one of the reasons for that lied in disloyal competition of road transport. "Numerous unregistered haulers worked without licenses, and their services are cheaper because they do not pay taxes and they directly affect our business," said Medenica. He said that the railway Niksic - Podgorica was in terrible condition since it had not been overhauled since 1965, when it was opened, and added that numerous negotiations on its reconstruction, which would cost about 36 million USD, gave no results. "The company regularly paid its duties, but we have a lot of debit. Our greatest debtors are Railway transport company "Belgrade" which did not pay its duties since 1997, and I believe that they would not do that in the future, either. "Sartid" from Smederevo did not pay its debt of 857,000 USD and millions of dinars since 1996," said Medenica. He also mentioned local companies who did not pay their duties, such as Aluminum Complex from Podgorica, Steelworks and Bauxite Mines from Niksic, for which he said that they boasted with their business activities and income. Railway to Albania Medenica said that the railway to Albania did not function because it was cut off in the neighbouring state, but he said that he expected its re-opening. "Albanian side works on reconstruction of the railway, and it is not possible to state when it would begin to work," said he and added that Montenegro would not dismantle the railway but it would readily accept its opening, whenever it happened.