CROATIAN VICE-PREMIER BEGINS TALKS IN LJUBLJANA

LJUBLJANA, Jan 15 (Hina) - Croatian Vice-Premier Slavko Linic on Wednesday morning began a one-day visit to Slovenia during which he will hold talks with several ministers of Premier Anton Rop's government. The subject of the talks will be open issues between the two countries and the boosting of economic cooperation. #L# "Economic cooperation between Croatia and Slovenia is excellent despite some unsolved problems which sometimes cause hindrances," Linic said after talks with Slovene Economy Minister Tea Petrin which focused on Slovenia's experience in the process of joining the EU. Linic said Slovenia backed Croatia's efforts in liberalising the market and joining associations such as the CEFTA and the European Union. The two also tackled the interest of Slovene companies in privatisation processes in Croatia. Linic said Slovene investors, such as Terme Catez and others, were good investors. He added that the two countries should use more contacts in the future to dissolve "tensions" caused by Slovene investments in Croatia, which are the result of a heightened sensitivity of the Croatian public and difficulties of large tourist companies after they experienced a drop in business during the Homeland War. After a meeting regarding the privatisation of the "Suncani Hvar" hotel company, Linic took Slovene reporters' questions, when he said that Prime Minister Ivica Racan had stated that a decision would be made within a fortnight, but that the government's priority was to invest into transport infrastructure, not tourist mastodons. "From talks with Mr. Linic I estimate that there is no reason for our company (Terme Catez) not to have success (in the privatisation of Suncani Hvar)," said Petrin. Linic refused to comment on issues such as the Ljubljanska Bank Zagreb foreign currency savings and the execution of an agreement on the Krsko nuclear power plant until he has met the competent ministers. (hina) lml sb