Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec has said that the Slovenian government has asked the Croatian government for an explanation of its conclusions adopted at the closed part of its April 19 meeting in connection with lawsuits filed by Croatia's Zagrebacka Banka and Privredna Banka Zagreb against Slovenia's Ljubljanska Banka regarding the issue of unpaid foreign currency savings deposits owned by Croatian clients of the now defunct Slovenian bank.
"It's strange that those conclusions are of a confidential nature. That's why we have asked the Croatian side for an explanation. We expect to get an answer soon, given that the prime ministers of the two countries are expected to meet soon," Erjavec said in an interview with Slovenian Television late on Thursday.
Erjavec said that the issue of savings deposits owned by Croatian clients of Ljubljanska Banka should be dealt with as part of the process of succession to the former Yugoslavia. "That is very important and that's why we should find an appropriate institution to deal with this issue. If it's not the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, another appropriate institutions should be found."
When asked if Slovenia would block Croatia's entry into the European Union if no agreement was reached, Erjavec said it was "too early to say." "We are two friendly countries. I expect the Croatian government to inform us about its conclusions regarding Ljubljanska Banka," he added.
