ZAGREB, March 2 (Hina) - It is not true that the "Kaptol is negotiating", maybe deputy premier Slavko Linic and representatives of other dioceses held some talks, but this is not known to us, that is, the archbishops' spiritual table
did not authorise anyone to hold such talks, said general vicar of Zagreb archdiocese Vladimir Stankovic about possibilities of eventual handing over of part of "Croatia Insurance" shares to the Church. Commenting on a recent headline in Vecernji List daily "Croatia Insurance goes to Church for debts" for the March 3 issue of "Glas Koncila", Stankovic said he "is not familiar with official talks with the government in that regard". According to the article in Vecernji List, referring to information from the Church, state and foreign investors' circles, "one of privatisation solutions for the state insurer is the Church as an institution which has big denationalisation req
ZAGREB, March 2 (Hina) - It is not true that the "Kaptol is
negotiating", maybe deputy premier Slavko Linic and
representatives of other dioceses held some talks, but this is not
known to us, that is, the archbishops' spiritual table did not
authorise anyone to hold such talks, said general vicar of Zagreb
archdiocese Vladimir Stankovic about possibilities of eventual
handing over of part of "Croatia Insurance" shares to the Church.
Commenting on a recent headline in Vecernji List daily "Croatia
Insurance goes to Church for debts" for the March 3 issue of "Glas
Koncila", Stankovic said he "is not familiar with official talks
with the government in that regard".
According to the article in Vecernji List, referring to information
from the Church, state and foreign investors' circles, "one of
privatisation solutions for the state insurer is the Church as an
institution which has big denationalisation requests towards the
state".
Stankovic assessed the article was "sharply worded, apart from the
title".
Linic has offered 25% of shares to the Church, according to the
article whose title suggests the Church will entirely take over
Croatia Insurance.
Asked whether the Church is accepting such an offer, Stankovic said
if there was something at all, he saw it in the context of the
European Union's general requests towards former socialists
countries to return to owners what has been taken during the
communist regime.
As for talks with "other partners", that is, possible buyers of
Croatia Insurance, vicar added such "strictly official" talks have
not been led, but there were previous contacts with the Croatia
Insurance management board which was interested how thing were
today, given that in 1884, Zagreb archdiocese was an important
factor in the formation of the company.
Asked whether he was afraid that such turn of events in public could
be unfavourable for the Church, Stankovic said only those with ill
intentions could hold something against the Church as all this was
in line with normal reasoning, the existing Croatian judiciary and
international practice. "Revenues from 25% of shares could make
easier the Church's independence and provide new possibilities for
its pastoral and humanitarian activities. Everyone in the entire
world anyway know all religious communities have some shares in
various companies which help them in their maintenance", said
Stankovic.
(hina) np