"I deny that in the strongest terms," Plenkovic said in Vrgorac when asked to comment on a statement by Environment Minister Tomislav Coric at a press conference earlier in the day related to a memorandum between INA and JANAF, when Coric called out N1 TV reporter Hrvoje Kresic for his writing in a reporters' social network group.
Coric said that from Kresic's work and messages in the group, it was evident that he was not happy with the appointment of INA's management board.
"I am sorry that part of the media used my statement, i.e. my response to a reporter, for a theory of monitoring, tapping or any other unacceptable act. Never in my life would it cross my mind to encroach into anyone's privacy and particularly not a reporter's. I resolutely deny any possibility of something like that," Minister Coric told Hina.
He referred to media claims that his response during a press conference earlier in the day insinuated that the reporter was working in someone's interest.
"My statement said during today's press conference was nothing more than a response to a question which tried to imply that I had attempted to sell Croatia's national interests, or rather bring them into question. I did not, I am not and will never do that."
Asked how he managed to gain insight into the reporter's correspondence, Coric said, "Simple. I got that information from reporters' circles."
HND strongly condemns Minister Coric's statements
The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) and its N1 television branch today strongly condemned statements made by Minister Coric, who referred to N1 reporter Kresic as a "person who is marginally involved in the oil business" and insinuated that he had had access to text messages in a journalists' group chat.
The HND also condemned the minister's statement that it was obvious from Kresic's text messages that he was dissatisfied on a personal level with the individuals the minister had proposed as new members of the INA management board.
The insinuations that a journalist who asks questions is working for other people's interests, has a political agenda, and is not working for the public interest, the HND noted, is a gross distortion of roles in a democratic society, in which elected politicians should answer to the public and do their jobs transparently.
We Can! platform condemns Coric's attack on journalist
The We Can! political platform condemned Coric's attack on Kresic, saying that Coric's statement revealed that the HDZ-led government was monitoring internal communications between journalists, that they openly acknowledged that and used it for attacking journalists.
"No one in the government or anyone else can or must have any insight into anyone's correspondence, especially between journalists," said Plenkovic.
Plenkovic described the memorandum of understanding between INA and JANAF as protecting the government's national interests in INA.
"INA is one of our largest companies. It is also very important for energy independence and generally for the economy. It is key that consultants will present their preliminary estimates and evaluation around 10 June and after that we can decide further," he said.
Commenting on a statement by Social Democratic Party leader Davor Bernardic that the memorandum was a "betrayal of national interests," Plenkovic said that Bernardic is an immature politician who, with his conduct, disqualifies himself for any serious position in state institutions.
Plenkovic added that the government was aware that Janaf and INA had signed the memorandum and that Minister Coric informed the public in detail about that today.
The President who may not go to the polls is degrading yet another important institution - the State Prosecutor's Office
Asked by reporters about the newly appointed chief state prosecutor, Prime Minister Plenkovic said that she (Zlata Hrvoj Sipek) was appointed today in the parliament following a public call for applications that was advertised by the State Prosecutorial Council.
"We interviewed all six candidates. Based on the programme she presented and her experience, she has worked in the State Prosecutor's Office for more than 25 years, has enormous professional experience, knows the system well, she knows what needs to be done in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and I expect that, in line with that, she will continue the work of that important institution," he said and added that he considers her to be the right choice considering the other candidates.
Plenkovic reacted to claims by President Milanovic that she was the prime minister's choice for the chief state prosecutor.
"She was the choice of the government' and the parliamentary majority," Plenkovic underlined.
"Seeing that this is not someone who has come from outside the state prosecution system, I think that it is bad that the president, who said that he might not vote in the parliamentary election, is now degrading yet another important institution, and that is the State Prosecutor's Office," Plenkovic concluded.