Mickoski announces talks with potential buyers for Alta Bank

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the government and the National Bank have instruments to control the situation at Alta Bank and that the priority is to preserve the institution and protect depositors. He spoke after inaugurating the third phase of the "Straiste" irrigation system in the municipality of Valandovo.

Government aims to find a buyer

Mickoski told reporters that the government is actively seeking a buyer for Alta Bank and rejected opposition claims that proposed solutions would fail. He said the bank is, in his assessment, a healthy financial institution and that authorities want to avoid depositor losses.

In his comments he accused the Social Democratic Union (SDSM) of welcoming alarmist scenarios and contrasted that with the government's effort to reach a solution. He added: "They rejoice at citizens not being compensated according to the TAT principle from the time of SDSM, according to the Eurostandard Bank principle from the time of SDSM. I said and I stand by it that every creditor, every saver will be compensated down to the last cent, because most savings deposits are insured in the Deposit Insurance Fund, and the bank's assets are much larger than the claims. But we are trying to prevent that, that black scenario about which SDSM prays every day, namely to find a buyer."

On the immediate steps, Mickoski announced: "In the next few days, together with the governor and the minister of finance, we will have meetings with several financial institutions that could be potential buyers of the bank."

He also commented on recent developments in neighbouring Serbia, saying exchange offices there have limited euro exchange to €300–€400, which he described as a serious indicator for the stability of the Serbian banking system. "So, the conversion of the local currency dinars into euros can no longer be performed. And that represents a serious indicator for the stability of their banking system. I hope the worst-case scenario will be avoided because Serbia is an important trading partner for Macedonia," he said.

Mickoski warned that problems in Serbia could spill over to Macedonian companies that trade with Serbian partners. He said many Macedonian firms have partners whose accounts and funds are blocked at Alta Bank and that some businesses have already closed or gone bankrupt. "A large number of our companies cooperate with Serbian companies and many of the owners of those companies call me and ask what next, because their partners from Serbia have blocked accounts and funds in Alta Bank. Some of them even closed their business, that is, went bankrupt, so practically our companies now have a problem," he said.

SDSM responded by demanding an immediate criminal probe into Mickoski, the National Bank governor Trajko Slaveski and Finance Minister Gordana Kochoska, arguing the three played a role in Alta Bank's entry to the Macedonian market and should be investigated. SDSM spokesperson Bogdanka Kuzeska called on the Public Prosecutor's Office to act without delay: "We demand that the Public Prosecutor's Office does not wait and does not justify that there is time. There is no time, it is delayed 11 months. Immediately to open an investigation also for Mickoski, Slaveski and Kochoska. To involve the European Public Prosecutor's Office to check the flow of all money for Alta Bank. All those involved in the Alta Bank scandal must be held accountable."

Separately, the National Bank has introduced temporary administration at Alta Bank Bitola until the bank's ownership changes.

Photo: Printskrin