The possible sale of Russian banks' stakes in Croatia's Agrokor food and retail giant is a corporate issue, and in the upcoming future Sberbank's main emphasis in managing its stake would be on further stabilising the company, Russia's ambassador to Croatia, Anvar Azimov, said on Monday.

Asked by reporters about the possible sale of Russian banks Sberbank and VTB shares in Agrokor, Azimov said that so far the banks had a positive role in saving Agrokor from bankruptcy, adding that their main goal had been to help in stabilising and restructuring the company.

After the implementation of a debt-for-equity settlement deal at Agrokor, which is expected to be completed within months, Sberbank will end up holding 39.2 percent and VTB another 7.5 percent at the company.

Speaking on the possible sale of Agrokor shares to third parties, Azimov said that the matter was a corporate issue between Sberbank and Agrokor.

“We at the embassy don’t interfere in these things,” Azmov said, and added that in the months ahead, Sberbank’s main emphasis will be on further stabilising and improving the situation in Agrokor.

Asked if Croatia’s future liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which is planned to be built on the northern Adriatic island of Krk, would affect Croatia energy business with Russia, Azimov said it wouldn’t, as Croatia would “always need Russian gas.”

“If Croatia is interested in building an LNG terminal, we can welcome that. Even if it builds the terminal, Croatia will always need Russian gas. Last year we exported more than 200 billion cubic metres of gas to European Union countries and the demand for gas is rising, while at the same time production in EU countries and Croatia is falling,” Azimov said.

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