The publishing of photographs of expensive wrist watches, including a number of watches that are not owned by the Prime Minister and which he is falsely stated to possess, bear evidence to an orchestrated, aggressive slander campaign, the government said in the statement.
The sensationalist approach of some media is aimed at creating the impression that private property and respect for private enterprise are undesirable and harmful, which is being done in the name of private and commercial, possibly political interests, of some individuals, the statement said.
The PM has explained on several occasions the origin of his property acquired during the several decades of his work abroad and in Croatia, including several wrist watches that were mentioned by the media and that are part of his collection which he has acquired over almost 30 years, the government said.
PM Sanader advocates transparent, public and universal criteria for declaring personal assets, the government said, adding that it would send a request to the Commission for Conflict of Interest to decide if declarations of assets owned by state officials should include information on jewellery, wrist watches, fur, rugs, antiquities, designer furniture, and expensive electronic equipment.
If this proves to be necessary, the government will request information on whether all state officials have provided such information, the government's public relations office said in the statement.