RULING COALITION PARTIES DIFFER ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT KRSKO

ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan has expressed dissatisfaction with the statement by the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), a partner in the ruling coalition, that it will not vote for the ratification of a Croatian-Slovene agreement on the jointly-owned nuclear power plant Krsko. The agreement is being discussed at a session of the country's ruling five-party coalition, which started this afternoon. #L# Racan said before the meeting the coalition had reached an agreement on Krsko several days ago and that he could not comment on the fact that the HSLS was now opposing it until the meeting ended. Racan recalled the current situation with Krsko. Croatia does not own or manage the plant and it can use electricity from it under Slovenia's conditions, he said. This is why the Croatian government has been advocating the signing of the agreement with Slovenia. After the agreement is signed, it will be possible to decide "if the plant will be given away for one kuna, or sold", he said. Before Racan arrived at the meeting, Budisa explained to reporters the reason his party was against the ratification of the agreement, signed by the two countries late last year. He said the HSLS considered two articles of the agreement contentious. The first article is Article 10, which gives Slovenia the possibility to decide about Krsko's closure on its own, while Croatia remains obliged to care for the disposal of nuclear waste, the regulation being valid not only in case of an act of God. The other contentious article is Article 16, which stipulates that Croatia can be left without its ownership share in the plant, without stating the concrete reasons due to which this can happen. (hina) rml sb