CROATIA & SLOVENIA CONTINUE WITH TALKS ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

ZAGREB, Jan 5 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges told Hina on Tuesday that he would hold talks next week with his Slovene colleague Metod Dragonja regarding an agreement between the two countries on the nuclear power-plant Krsko. According to Porges, the two countries had achieved certain progress on the issue. "Certain steps forward have been made, there is progress", the Croatian Minister said. The Croatian Government forwarded a draft inter-state agreement on Krsko to the Slovene Government in the first half of 1998. About two weeks ago, the Slovene Government responded with a counter-draft agreement by which the two countries wished to finally solve the long-standing Krsko issue. "A part of it is acceptable, while a part is to be negotiated", Pogres commented on the Slovene counter-draft agreement. "There is a certain degree of consent regarding co-ownership and parity in co-ownership", the minister added. Porges said he did not expect the agreement would be completed and the issue of the plant solved by the following meeting. "It is out of the question", Pogres said when asked if the agreement would be completed at next week's meeting. He said the entire procedure would last longer. The Krsko plant was jointly built by Croatia and Slovenia at the time of the former Yugoslav federation. It is located on Slovene territory. (hina) it/ha mm