Government again tries to sell former embassy building in Budapest

The government decided on Thursday to invite bids for the purchase of the former Croatian embassy building in Budapest for EUR 290,000.

Attempts to sell the building began in 2000, the last attempt being in September 2011, when not one bid was submitted.

Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic said the building had not been sold because the asking price was too high. She said the building was empty and falling into disrepair, with the government paying the utilities. Therefore, she suggested and the government agreed that the building be sold in a public tender for EUR 290,000.

Also today, the government appointed its representatives in negotiations with physicians' and nurses' unions.

Health Minister Rajko Ostojic announced a meeting with the two unions for tomorrow. He recalled that in November 2011 the former government signed a collective agreement with some unions that was declared null and void, and that a temporary three-month agreement was signed on July 5, without which health care employees would not have received salary benefits.

The government also adopted an annual work report on the Money Laundering Prevention Office for 2012. Finance Minister Slavko Linic said the office handled 340 cases last year, of which 132 were referred to relevant bodies, while seizure orders were filed in six cases.

Also, the government decided to transfer the state's claims from the Zadar and Sibenik football clubs to the respective cities.

The Zadar Football Club owes HRK 20 million in taxes, public contributions and interest, while the Sibenik Football Club owes the state HRK 54.3 million.

(EUR 1 = HRK 7.5)

(Hina)



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