WEEKLY REFUTES GOVERNMENT'S CLAIMS ABOUT RIJECKA BANK

ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Nacional weekly maintains the government refuted an article about Rijecka Banka without any arguments, and claims the information that the bank is obliged to return EUR100 million to Germany's Bayerische Landesbank (BLB) is correct. #L# The weekly says in a statement released on Wednesday that it has published a "concrete information," namely that under a cross- default contract clause, Rijecka Banka is obliged to return EUR100 million to BLB if the German bank's ownership share drops to below 51 percent. BLB has returned its entire share in Rijecka Banka to the Croatian government, thus activating said clause, the statement says. "Therefore, the Government did not get Rijecka Banka back from the German side for one euro, as (Deputy Prime Minister) Slavko Linic demagogically claims, but for 100 million euros, while the damage of the financial scandal at Rijecka Banka totals EUR315 million," Nacional claims. Refuting the Nacional article in a statement yesterday, the government said the article was based on a "lack of understanding, untruths and ignorance, and tries to cause panic and damage to Rijecka Banka." (hina) ha sb