Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic has said that during their intervention to ensure the access of the official receiver to the Jadrankamen factory in Pucisca on the island of Brac, the police did not overstep their authority.
"There is a court writ and I am sure that the police did not exceed their powers," Milanovic said during his visit to Divulje, outside Split, on Friday in response to reporters' questions about the events surrounding the marble and stone manufacturer Jadrankamen. The police were sent to Jadrankamen on Thursday to help the official receiver Ivo Bucan to enter the factory after he had been prevented by workers who oppose the bankruptcy proceedings. Several protesting workers were detained and released by the police later on Thursday. Workers came to work on Friday morning.
Asked by reporters why so many police officers had been sent to Pucisca, Milanovic said that he had been told that two platoons of the police forces had been there.
"I have not noticed any violence," the premier said.
Emphasising that he sympathised with everyone, Milanovic said that when it came to Jadrankamen there was a court decision about bankruptcy procedure and bankruptcy trustee.
This court decision and the law must be respected. Otherwise Croatia will not be a modern state, he added
"I know that this does not bring consolation to those in Pucisca who lost their jobs, but these are the facts and I expect people to realise that," he said
He said that Jadrankamen would continue doing business with perhaps a lower number of employees.
"In political terms, Jadrankament has nothing to do with my government or my party (Social Demcoratic Party) ... but this is the rule-based state and there are court decisions and the model for their enforcement," the premier said.
Asked whether the negotiations were under way with a private fund on the sale of the dockyards -- the Rijeka-based "3.maj" and tthe Trogis-based Brodotrogir --, PM Milanovic said he could not comment on anything.
