Regarding that article, "the Embassy has always urged that the process be open and transparent."
"We expect any American company to operate fully under both U.S. and Croatian law, and Barr has assured us they are doing so," reads the press release.
As regards his interview with the Globus weekly on July 21 this year, "Ambassador Bradtke said 'If Barr successfuly buys Pliva, that will have a very positive effect on other American companies that wish to expand to the Croatian market'", the Embassy said.
The index.hr portal claimed that the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert A. Bradtke had said its was time Barr bought Pliva.
"Embassy believes that purchases of companies should be based on economic criteria," the press release reads, adding that "whatever Pliva shareholders finally decide regarding the future of their company, relations between the United States and Croatia will continue to be strong."
The portal also claimed that a former Croatian foreign minister and former ambassador to Washington, Miomir Zuzul, has lobbied for Barr Pharmaceuticals during the ongoing negotiations for the acquisition of Pliva. The other interested party is the Icelandic company Actavis. According to the portal's article, in late June, Zuzul, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Pliva CEO Zeljko Covic met in the Italian city of Verona where Zuzul succeeded in persuading the premier that Barr would be the best option for the new owner of the leading Croatian pharmaceutical company.