SLOVENE OFFICIAL COMMENTS ON WEDNESDAY CROATIAN GOVT MEETING

( Editorial: --> 3481 ) LJUBLJANA, 13 Aug (Hina/STA) - Slovenia will comment on the views of the Croatian Government presented on 12 August, concerning the Slovene regulation on transforming Krsko Nuclear Power Plant Inc into a public enterprise, only after it has received Croatia's official stand, Slovene state secretary for energetics Alojz Kovse said Thursday. At its meeting held in Zagreb yesterday, the Croatian Government criticised a Slovene regulation on transforming Krsko Nuclear Power Plant Inc into a public enterprise, to be known as Krsko Nuclear Power Plant Ltd. The Krsko nuclear power plant is located in Slovenia but owned by both countries. The plant was established in 1981. Croatia assessed that through its decision of July 30 the Slovene Government had overstepped the rights which belonged to the Slovene side as the legal successor to the original Slovene co-founder. The Slovene power distributor ELES general director, Ivo Banic, told the Slovene news agency that questions concerning Krsko power plant were under the jurisdiction of the Slovene and Croatian governments. Stressing that "the delivery of electric power and the ownership of the plant are two completely different issues", Banic said he believed that the question of ownership could remain unresolved for the next 25 years without hampering the functioning of the plant. Both Slovenia and Croatia can continue buying electricity without any difficulty, Banic said. Banic expressed conviction that both sides would meet again and start resolving open questions. Asked about possible arbitration, Boric said the decision on arbitration rested with both countries. Banic, who is chairing the plant's temporary management committee, said the committee would hold a session on 20 August. (hina) rml 131624 MET aug 98