Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic on Wednesday did not allow the newly nominated tourism minister Darko Lorencin to answer any questions from the press in relation to his housing loans, claiming that Lorencin was being accused in advance of thievery.
That's a commercial loan that Lorencin took at an interest rate of six or seven percent just like me, Milanovic said butting into a question by a reporter, adding that "everything has been put down on paper". The question is below any sense of dignity and accuses someone of thievery in advance, the PM said at a press conference presenting the incoming minister.
In response to questions about the outgoing minister Veljko Ostojic and security checks when he became minister, Milanovic underscored that ministers do not undergo background checks nor would they in future.
Croatia is not a police state and we won't do any such things regardless of the fact that the former government "created a spy industry when everyone was vetted", he said, adding that it was spelled out which officials were subject to security checks.
Lorencin told the press conference that once Croatia joined the EU, property prices on the coast would probably go up and it was up to the tourism ministry to preserve Croatia's coastline and make it more attractive.
He also commented on the Srdj golf project above Dubrovnik, stating that the project had undergone three public debates and that the project was passed at the county level each time and so the ministry cannot but uphold the project especially since the investor was assured the project would go ahead and a great deal of money has already been invested in the venture. "We have to maintain Croatia's image with regard to investments", Lorencin said.
Asked about a land transaction with the Rockwool company which is currently being tried in court and that the incident occurred when he was head of the Istrian Development Agency, Lorencin said that the then mayor of Pican supported that venture and that in his (Lorencin's) capacity as the agency's director, he was just following procedure in line with this request.
"I arranged the legislation under which Istria County is obliged to pay HRK 500,000 each year to the Pican municipality for the purpose of infrastructure of that business zone," he said.
As far as land for tourism purposes is concerned, Lorencin said that he was coming from an area where business people were using municipal property but were not paying for this service to the local government. "I am fully aware of this problem and we will resolve it. Yes to tourism but not at any price", Lorencin concluded.
