Večer On the Debts of Former Yugoslavia

Ljubljana, 20 February - PRESS/SLOVENIA/FINANCE/DEBTS
Entitling the commentary "Yet It Is Urgent", the Maribor newspaper Večer tackles the question of the repayment of the former Yugoslavia's debts. Upon his return from the United States of America where he and the Governor of the National Bank of Slovenia held talks on Slovene debts, Slovene Minister of Finance Mitja Gaspari said that "it is more the quality of the process and not the rapidity that matters". As far as financial matters are concerned, the minister was undoubtedly right, writes Večer, adding that the matter, however, can also been seen in a different light. If negotiators from these newly formed Balkan states find the question of succession insoluble, it can quickly prove even more unpleasant - if the sanctions upon Yugoslavia are removed in the near future it can happen that the National Bank of Yugoslavia becomes the only partner in negotiations acceptable for the Paris Club and the consortium of commercial banks, despite partially opposite guarantees, writes Večer, pointing out to unpleasant consequences for Slovenia if this happens.