CROATIA: TALKS ON SELLING HOTEL CHAIN TO SLOVENES CONTINUE

HVAR, Jan 15 (Hina) - Croatian Tourism Minister Pave Zupan-Ruskovic on Wednesday spoke with Hvar's town councillors about the privatisation of the "Suncani Hvar" hotel chain and stated that locals should accept the Croatian Privatisation Fund's offer to sell to Slovenia's Catez Spa. #L# "We are talking about a high quality partner with guarantees to develop Croatia's tourism. In addition, the cancellation of the international tender could have negative repercussions in world business circles," the minister said. She pointed out that much ado had been made due to incorrect information about the tender and the selection of offers. "That's why the privatisation of 'Suncani Hvar' should be taken off the agenda as soon as possible," she said, adding the residents of the southern island had not been informed properly. During talks at the town hall, employees of "Suncani Hvar" protested against selling the company. Following a meeting which lasted several hours, the town's councillors, headed by mayor Zoran Domancic, opposed the proposed model to sell to the Slovenes, demanding the sale be postponed. They asked that the government pass over 25 percent of the company's shares to the town of Hvar, claiming "Suncani Hvar" had been created with investments made by the locals. The two months ahead should be set aside to thoroughly evaluate the situation in the hotel chain and only then should gradual privatisation be initiated and the best sale model selected, the councillors pointed out. (hina) sp/ha sb