PM: OPPOSITION UNABLE TO GIVE ARGUMENTS AGAINST INA PRIVATISATION

ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - The sale of the INA oil company was conducted in every detail according to the law, very fairly, transparently and economically successfully, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Friday during a parliamentary debate on INA's privatisation. He criticised four opposition parties that were against the sale of INA to the Hungarian MOL oil company, saying they refused to take part in the discussion because they were unable to give arguments to challenge the government's success. "I know that the aim of the opposition is to question every good and economically beneficial effort of this government and we can understand that, but they must show a measure of responsibility," Racan said. The prime minister denied opposition claims that the government had kept the sales agreement secret and that it had sold INA's shares "for a pittance". "In the last three and a half years, the value of INA has gone up, but an increase in the value of a Croatian company obviously does not suit the opposition, who want to deny it and downplay it," he added. Racan rejected allegations by the opposition that INA had been sold without the knowledge and decision of parliament, saying that it was parliament that passed the law on INA's privatisation, which he said the government observed in the process of sale, and that it also approved the sale of the shares. The prime minister said his government had made every effort to ensure that the largest privatisation project in Croatia was a success. (hina) vm