The Prime Minister of Croatia, Ivo Sanader, commented on Tuesday in Brussels on the criticisms from President Stipe Mesić regarding the sale of INA, using the Latin phrase "nihil novi sub sole" (nothing new under the sun), stating that the Law on the Privatization of INA was enacted during the government of Ivica Račan and Mesić’s first term.
"Nothing new under the sun. The Law on the Privatization of INA was enacted during the government of Ivica Račan and the first term of President Mesić, and we are doing what is stipulated in that law," said Sanader when asked to comment on Mesić’s speech at the opening of the Autumn International Zagreb Fair.
President Mesić, in his speech at the opening of the 84th Autumn International Fair, emphasized that the situation in the Croatian economy is concerning, that foreign borrowing continues to rise, production is being neglected, and the sale of "family silver" continues, questioning why INA is being sold along with its sources of oil, gas, and water to "a company that increased its profit by an incredible 170 percent last year."
When asked if the law could be changed, Sanader replied: "Of course, but if it is good, and I assume it is good, then it does not need to be changed." Sanader criticized Mesić for not acknowledging what the government is doing to combat inflation in his speech. "Economic indicators are good, surely what we are doing and what the government is undertaking at this moment to reduce inflation is something that has been welcomed by everyone, and I do not know why this was not acknowledged today at the Fair. Probably some advisors wrote the speech, but we will interrogate them for another year," he said. (Hina)
