LJUBLJANA, Sept 3 (Hina) - Recurring diplomatic disputes with Croatia hamper Slovene companies in doing business in Croatia, a number of Slovene managers have said in a poll conducted by the "Finance" business daily in the light of
the latest tensions between Zagreb and Ljubljana.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 3 (Hina) - Recurring diplomatic disputes with
Croatia hamper Slovene companies in doing business in Croatia, a
number of Slovene managers have said in a poll conducted by the
"Finance" business daily in the light of the latest tensions
between Zagreb and Ljubljana. #L#
Client loyalty and competitiveness are crucial in commerce, but the
tensions have nevertheless taken a toll on business, said Zoran
Jankovic, manager and co-owner of "Mercator", the largest Slovene
chain of stores, which has several hyper-markets in Croatia.
The manager of Slovenia's "Lasko" brewery, Anton Turnsek, also
fears that the soured diplomatic relations could affect business
and reduce Slovene sales of drinks in Croatia.
Turnsek supports the Slovene government in settling the dispute in
a European way, but believes that Croatia's radical views could
negatively affect economic cooperation, which he says eventually
will be detrimental to all.
The head of the "Kompas" tourist agency from Ljubljana, which sends
a large number of tourists to Croatia and which intended to buy the
Suncani Hvar hotel company this spring, said that media and
politicians on both sides were to be blamed for repeating "the
practice from the early 1990s and constantly generating new
conflicts".
"Most Slovenes and Croats want good and friendly relations... the
latest disputes have stopped our sale of package holidays on the
Adriatic," said Kompas director Janez Pergar.
Bine Kodez, manager of the Merkur company, which is also active in
Croatia, believes that the two countries will solve open issues
without business relations being affected.
(hina) rml