Croatian PM unhappy with latest developments in MOL-INA case

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said on Thursday he was unhappy about the latest developments in the INA-MOL case, and called on his cabinet ministers to refrain from comment in light of ongoing criminal proceedings against MOL board chairman Zsolt Hernadi in Croatia, on which the Croatian government could have no influence.

"I do not see the developments in relation to MOL as a state of war. This is not the way we will communicate. I can understand the Hungarian government to some extent. I require from myself and you to exercise maximum restraint and make no comments in the public. If anybody needs to comment on the topic, it is me and the head of the (Croatian) negotiating team, (Minister Ivan) Vrdoljak," Milanovic said at the start of the cabinet meeting in Zagreb. He noted that the proceedings "were launched much before this cabinet stepped into office."

"Even if it were not so, we would not be able to influence it," Milanovic said, adding that that the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor (DORH) is independent in its work.

Milanovic noted that Hungary's oil and gas group MOL and the Croatian government had certain contractual obligations towards each other in INA and therefore he urged restraint from comments.

"Let DORH do what it has to do within international legal aid. I can only say that I am not happy with the latest developments," Milanovic reiterated, adding that he cannot and will not elaborate on the details of criminal proceedings with which he was not acquainted well.

"I hope that the message is clear for the public and the Hungarian government. The Croatian government has nothing to do with this case, and we will agree on how to proceed with the negotiations with MOL," he said.

Later at the meeting, Milanovic said that when it came to diplomacy, it was not common to talk about friends and enemies, but that he stressed that Hungary had been "Croatia's proven helper in the last 20 years."

"Our cooperation with Hungary has always been good, and I believe nothing will change that," the Croatian PM said, adding that bilateral cooperation had been excellent since he had taken over the helm of the Croatian government.



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