ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - Asked to comment on headlines in Monday's "Jutarnji list" daily about alleged irregularities in the Commercial Bank Zagreb (PBZ) and Splitska Banka, the head of the PBZ Board, Bozo Prka, said the bank would
thoroughly analyse the case and if it found elements for a suit, it would sue the daily.
ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - Asked to comment on headlines in Monday's
"Jutarnji list" daily about alleged irregularities in the
Commercial Bank Zagreb (PBZ) and Splitska Banka, the head of the PBZ
Board, Bozo Prka, said the bank would thoroughly analyse the case
and if it found elements for a suit, it would sue the daily. #L#
"We haven't thought about suing Prime Minister Ivica Racan. We
spoke to him and he supported the PBZ, realising its importance, and
in a way apologised for any inconvenience that may have arisen
through false interpretations of private talks among coalition
partners," Prka said after a meeting of the bank's stockholders.
The PBZ's presence on foreign exchange markets is entirely legal,
with the bank being fully exposed to control mechanisms, so that
"the mistake which happened in Rijecka Banka" cannot happen at the
PBZ, Prka said.
I hope that this will put on the agenda the responsibility of those
who release unverified facts, he said, adding that it was
inadmissible for any institution in the county to make unfounded
statements about banks. The PBZ is one of the most stable pillars of
the banking system and one of the most stable sources of funding for
government projects, he added.
The bank recently approved a syndicated loan of EUR150 million to
finance the construction of the Zagreb-Split highway and is
currently negotiating ways to finance the costs of the pension
reform, Prka said, adding that the PBZ was one of the few domestic
banks that successfully organised state financing on the domestic
financial market.
"Last year the PBZ realised its best results ever and business in
general has been advanced; our efficiency increased, the bank has
been reorganised and is strongly supported by its strategic partner
(the Italian IntesaBci banking group). This is all the more reason
to be shocked at irresponsible political statements and unverified
facts that damage the credibility of one of the most reputable
financial institutions in Croatia," Prka said.
(hina) sp rml