Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said in the northeastern Bosnian town of Orasje on Wednesday his government would not give up on big investments, saying however that true progress was expected "once the private sector perks up, people feel the relief, their debt becomes balanced and the atmosphere of fear which is present in all of Europe ceases to exist."
"Croatia will not give up on great, ambitious plans, whatever will be will be, but we will not give up easily," Milanovic told the press when asked about prospects for Croatia's economic recovery.
He also commented on today's negotiations with the public-sector unions, saying the unions' biggest interest was what the government had to offer at this moment.
"We will not touch the basic wage and exercising other rights will be possible once the money is here. Those who can't see that are not being realistic," Milanovic said, adding that in his opinion the unionists were now less aggressive than before. "It is probably clear to them what the situation is like," he added.
"Once again I would like to appeal to common sense, for people to understand the situation the public finances are in and to see what is happening in Slovenia which has often been a role model for us, but I am afraid it no longer is," Milanovic said.
