"SUNCANI HVAR" HITS HEADLINES IN SLOVENIA

LJUBLJANA, Jan 24 (Hina) - The decision of the Croatian government to accept the bid of the "Terme Catez" company to purchase 62.3 percent of the Croatian hotel company "Suncani Hvar" hit the headlines of Slovene dailies on Friday, but there was no reaction from representatives at the Slovene spa Catez, which is a potential investor in the said Croatian firm. #L# The editorial of the Ljubljana-based "Delo" wrote about the Ivica Racan cabinet decision, made despite opposition from Croatian Peasants Party (HSS) ministers, in a commentary on Croatian- Slovene overall relations, and announced "the brightening of the skies" between Zagreb and Ljubljana. "The sale of the Suncani Hvar to the Catez-based company is an example of the most positive headway made in the bilateral relations and shows that it is possible to reach confidence in cases relating to economic projects with delicate political consequences. It has been proven that last week's visit of a Croatian Vice Premier, Slavko Linic, (to Ljubljana) yielded success for the Slovene side, but Zagreb is now definitely waiting for positive steps to be made by the Slovene side," the editorial said. The leading daily added that there were opinions that yesterday's decision of the Croatian government could expedite the resolution of the issue of the Ljubljanska Bank's debt and ownership in the Krsko nuclear power plant. The Terme Catez director, Borut Mokrovic, declined to comment on Thursday's news from Zagreb. "Until we receive complete information, I would not like to give statements," Mokrovic was quoted by "Delo". He reiterated his statement that the Suncani Hvar would be treated by his company as a long-term investment and that Slovenes were planning to forward a request to acquire a 100% percent ownership in this Croatian hotel chain. (hina) ms sb