PM Claims Views of KBC and Govt Converging
Slovenian PM Janez Jansa has said that the views of the Belgian banking and insurance group KBC and the government on the privatisation of Slovenia's largest bank, NLB, are gradually converging.
After the talks are finished, the privatisation model for Nova Ljubljanska banka (NLB), drafted by a special task force, would be amended and adopted by the government, Jansa explained on Wednesday, but offered no specific date.
"The state and the KBC hold an almost identical share in the NLB. Therefore we want to align our moves with those of our partner...The talks are still going on, but I can optimistically say that we are beginning to agree," Jansa revealed at the end of his one-day official visit to Germany.
KBC bought a 34% stake in NLB in 2002. Together with state-run funds, the state holds a 45% stake, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development holds 5%.
The talks between Slovenia and KBC did not figure in Jansa's visit. He and his host, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, however did discuss economic cooperation between the two countries. "Our economic cooperation is already very strong, but there are other options," Jansa said.
"No concept exists yet for the privatisation of (Slovenia's national telco) Telekom Slovenije, but the government plans to adopt a plan soon. Foreign partners will have their chance then, but it is currently unclear how big these chances will be," Jansa explained.
He moreover hinted that Germany, which has decided to keep its restriction on free labour movements from EU's ten newcomers, might opt for a less restrictive solution for Slovenia. "Foreign ministers discussed a proposal to lift these restrictions for eurozone countries. Slovenia will change over to the euro in 2007," the PM said.
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