ZAGREB, March 25 (Reuters) - Croatian police arrested a senior executive of the national energy group INA on suspicion of corruption on Friday, state television said
Anti-corruption police unit USKOK did not want to confirm or deny the report. INA said there was an investigation against Bojan Milkovic relating to his previous position as chief executive of INA's company Crosco.
"This investigation is in no relation to Milkovic's current position. We hope the investigation will prove that allegations against Milkovic are unfounded," INA said in a statement.
Croatia, which hopes to complete European Union entry talks this year, has pursued an anti-corruption campaign since Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor took power in 2009. The fight against corruption is a key condition for achieving membership.
INA is one of the biggest Croatian companies. It biggest shareholder is Hungary's MOL with a 47.25-percent stake. The Croatian government owns 44.84 percent.
Milkovic is one of the most senior Croatian executives in the company that is active in gas and oil exploration in Croatia, Africa and the Middle East, notably Syria.
As part of its corruption campaign, Croatia has convicted two former members of the government and opened investigations against several former officials and executives of public companies.
Kosor's predecessor, Ivo Sanader, is also under investigation and Zagreb has requested his extradition from Austria where he has been in custody since mid-December on a Croatian arrest warrant.
