Prime Minister Milanovic optimistic about LB transferred savings

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic in Brussels on Thursday declined to speak of the content of talks on the issue of the transferred Ljubljanska Banka savings, saying however that he was optimistic that an agreement on this issue would be reached.

"I cannot go into details for the sake of the success of the negotiations. We have been preparing this for days. We have not yet reached a final agreement, but we are heading in the direction so that both sides can be moderately satisfied," Milanovic told the press when asked if he could be more specific about the content of the agreement which the two countries' foreign ministers reached at Otocec ob Krki on Wednesday evening.
Milanovic addressed the press upon his arrival in Brussels where he will attend the EU summit which is scheduled to start on Thursday evening.
"I cannot go into details. I can only tell you that we've been playing transparently from the start, that we stick to the rule and to our obligations and we do not want to accuse and point fingers at the other side. Each side has assumed certain obligations, the process is in a stalemate and it would be bad for both Croatia and Slovenia if this is not resolved," Milanovic said.
Milanovic told the press he would discuss this issue with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who is also taking part in the EU summit.
"Both Croatia and Slovenia have a lot at stake, this has been going on way too long. All other EU member have either ratified Croatia's EU accession treaty or the process is nearing the completion," Milanovic said.
He added that Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic was consulting the government during the negotiations. Asked if the government would consult the head of state and the Opposition in the national parliament, the prime minister said this issue was under the government's purview.
Milanovic said he was optimistic about Croatia enter the bloc on 1 July, as scheduled.
(Hina)




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