ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - Croatia's oil industry Ina on Wednesday voiced its dissatisfaction with the decision of a Serbian government agency to privatise the Beopetrol oil company, i.e. Ina's property which was illegally confiscated
in 1990.
ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - Croatia's oil industry Ina on Wednesday
voiced its dissatisfaction with the decision of a Serbian
government agency to privatise the Beopetrol oil company, i.e.
Ina's property which was illegally confiscated in 1990. #L#
"We are profoundly embittered about the decision of the Serbian
Privatisation Agency, the more so because encouraging signals were
coming through (from the Serbian government) that the issue would
be solved on the bases of legal facts," Ina's public relations
office said in a statement.
The Serbian agency yesterday published a public bid for the sale of
a majority of Beopetrol's shares.
"It is evident that they changed the name of Ina's property, which
was illegally confiscated on December 7, 1990, but it was always the
same corporate entity," says the statement.
Ina recalls that it filed a timely appeal to the December 7, 1990
decision, contesting the organisation of a new company on Ina's
property. But the Serbian Higher Commercial Court dismissed the
appeal. Ina never received any feedback from the then Serbian chief
prosecutor about Ina's request to protect the legality of
transactions.
Ina's property in Serbia consists of 194 petrol stations, several
warehouses, facilities and other investments into long-term
property, such as transport, flats, etc.
The Croatian oil company stresses that it has warned numerous times
the domestic and foreign public, business partners and companies
which expressed or will express interest for the purchase of
Beopetrol, particularly competent bodies of both countries, about
the illegal seizure of its property.
"We are adamant about us having the right to our property, which
means that we will continue to undertake all legal measures to
repossess our property, before competent Serbian bodies and all
international institutions which are in charge of protecting the
property and material rights of individuals and legal entities. We
expect Croatia's competent organs to join in our repeated stands,"
the statement said.
(hina) lml sb