FM Kovač on loan conversion: We are protecting Croatian citizens

(Hina) - Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miro Kovač said in New York on Monday the government respected laws and that it was protecting Croatian citizens with regard to suits filed in reaction to the law on converting loans denominated in Swiss francs

(Hina) - Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miro Kovač said in New York on Monday the government respected laws and that it was protecting Croatian citizens with regard to suits filed in reaction to the law on converting loans denominated in Swiss francs.

Kovač, who is participating in a UN meeting on refugees and migrants, was asked to comment on a statement by the Franak association of citizens with loans pegged to the Swiss franc which wondered whether Kovač was working for Unicredit Bank or for Croatia because he had said that the law on loan conversion was a political decision and that with that statement he in fact offered banks a tool to sue Croatia. Kovač said that the government respected Croatian laws and the Constitution.

"We will protect Croatian citizens to the maximum. That is our duty and that is how I behave every day in doing this honourable job. We protect citizens' interests," Kovač said.

Asked whether the government was considering introducing a tax on bank assets as a counter measure, Kovač said that Finance Minister Zdravko Marić had already conducted talks with banks. Asked whether the government expected other banks to file suits, Kovač said that for now there is only one.

"The chief state prosecutor Dinko Cvitan will conduct the procedure on behalf of Croatia. There is an inter-ministerial task force, Kovač said and sent a message to the Franak association saying "there is no need to doubt us."

Press releases