DECISION ON MY DISMISSAL IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - The new chairman of the management board of the Croatian Power Supply (HEP) company, Ivo Covic, told reporters Wednesday significant space was available for the improvement of HEP. Damir Begovic, former HEP management chairman, said the decision on his dismissal was politically motivated. Begovic and Covic gave statements at brief, separate news conferences on Wednesday which they held after a session of the HEP Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board dismissed the HEP management with Begovic at the helm, and appointed a new one headed by Ivo Covic. The official take-over will be completed on March 6. Begovic confirmed there was no business reason for the dismissal of the HEP management, as he was not a member of any party, and in the seven years during which he led the HEP, the company grew into a respectable company from a company in bankruptcy, and was the only one able to receive an investment credit rating. Covic did not wish to comment on Begovic's statements that the decision on his dismissal was a political one. He, however, did comment the management hitherto which, he said, had in relatively difficult circumstances managed to ensure a reliable supply of electric power. Covic who entered the Parliament at the last parliamentary elections as member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) announced he would request as early as Wednesday for his parliamentary mandate to be set as dormant. (hina) lml jn