ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday that the pre-election period was not an ideal time to discuss the restitution of church property and that there was no need to create tensions ten days before
the elections.
ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on
Tuesday that the pre-election period was not an ideal time to
discuss the restitution of church property and that there was no
need to create tensions ten days before the elections. #L#
Racan said this during today's visit to the Interlibera display at
Zagreb Fair, after being asked to comment on a media headline today
that the Catholic Church demanded the urgent restitution of 40
buildings worth some EUR100 million.
The PM said the restitution of Church property had already been
discussed, that talks were being conducted and that there would be
more talks.
"We want to return the property as much as this is possible, but we
must not forget that the property already has a useful and humane
function," said Racan, adding that the restitution was not possible
overnight.
Racan recalled that the state had an agreement with the Church on
indemnification in the cases where natural restitution was not
possible, adding that talks on that issue were underway. "We are
close to an agreement on indemnifying the Church in the case of
Croatia Osiguranje (insurance company), as well as in some other
cases," Racan said.
He said that there were many open issues regarding the restitution
of property to the Church, and added that the restitution required
large funds.
(hina) it sb