Former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said in a statement on Saturday he had nothing to do with deals concerning the Podravka company, the Hungarian OTP bank, the Hungarian oil company MOL or the Croatian oil company INA.
"I did not take part in any talks concerning those issues nor was Iaware of such talks. This is a filthy insinuation which I dismiss in thestrongest terms," Sanader said in the brief statement.
The media recently reported about a connection between the Croatiangovernment's negotiations with MOL and those between OTP bank and Podravka. Themedia claim that MOL had deposited EUR 34 million in OTP bank earmarked for theimplementation of Operation Spice, namely an alleged attempt by Podravklamanagers to illegally take over the company.
The media also speculate that used as a guarantee were not only Podravkastocks but also those of the Croatian oil company INA.
The media also said that Sanader and former deputy Prime Minister DamirPolancec held talks with MOL officials in Budapest in November 2009.
Polancec is currently under an investigation launched by the Croatiananti-corruption agency USKOK.
