Writing in a Facebook post, Milanović recalled a failed initiative by the Serb National Council (SNV) of more than ten years ago to establish “a Serb ethnic bank” in Croatia that was to be named after Nikola Tesla.
The initiative was launched in cooperation with “the state leadership and a development fund of Serbia, which allocated nearly five million euro of Serbian taxpayers’ money for that purpose”, and the SNV’s idea was also for Croatia to make its contribution to the initial capital.
“The entire project for an ethnic bank was half forgotten over time, primarily because it was untenable businesswise,” Milanović said.
Milanović, who had served as prime minister at the time, said that he and his finance minister, Slavko Linić, had tried to find a solution, but to no avail, despite the millions of euro from Belgrade and the Croatian contribution. “Our intentions were sincere, but it didn’t work.”
“It’s all right when a financial institution (Tesla Bank) should be established with the joint financial support of Croatia and Serbia. In that case, I guess, Tesla is our common heritage. When Croatia, a forthcoming member of the euro zone, proposes that Tesla should be on a coin, that is cultural appropriation according to Serbia’s central bank,” Milanović said, adding in conclusion: “Once Serbia enters the euro zone, let it propose Tesla as well and everyone will be happy.”
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