The Croatian government will offer the Samobor-based private company DIV a sales contract for the Brodosplit dock, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Radimir Cacic announced on Monday.
Cacic made the announcement in Brussels where he was attending a ministerial meeting on the South Stream project after being invited by EC Commissioner for Energy Guenter Oettinger.
"The buyer can either sign the contract or reject it, that's his right", said Cacic, adding that the contract had not been signed until now as funds had not been set aside for this item in the budget.
He explained that it would have been unlawful to have had the contract signed without sufficient funds being secured as the buyer would have gained enforcement rights and could have demanded settlement directly from the state budget.
The government has offered DIV a bridging guarantee until a budget review is conducted to secure funds which has been incorporated into the sales contract. The government has set its terms and now it is up to the buyer to decide whether to accept the contract under these terms or not, he said.
Asked what if DIV rejects the contract, Cacic replied that the government would either look for a new buyer or send the dock into receivership.
In reference to two other docks, Cacic commented that the issue of Brodotrogir was resolved and the matter of the 3. Maj dock was still outstanding.
