KRSKO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT'S EXECUTIVE BOARD TO MEET NEXT WEEK

( Editorial: --> 5023 ) LJUBLJANA, Aug 21 (Hina) - A meeting of the Krsko nuclear power plant's executive board will be held at the end of next week following this Tuesday's talks between the Croatian and Slovene foreign ministers, according to Slovene media reports on Friday. Ljubljana daily "Delo" reported the announcement was made by Ivan Banic, chairman of Krsko's executive board and director of Slovene electricity supplier ELES. But it added claims that the Croatian electricity supplier HEP's debt to Krsko stood at 3.3 billion Slovenian tolars (US$19.5 million) and that the last instalment paid was on August 4. All figures presented by the Slovene side so far have been disputed by Croatia. Slovene media recalled that the board meeting would be held in accordance with a Slovene Government regulation under which valid decisions can be made with just half the board members present. This means that the four Slovenes on the board could pass all decisions without Croatian board members in attendance. The plant is located in Krsko, Slovenia but has been jointly owned by Croatia and Slovenia since it was opened in 1981. At the end of last month ELES, allegedly because of HEP's unpaid accounts, temporarily disconnected both electricity transmission lines from Krsko to Croatia. On July 30 the Slovene Government passed a regulation on transforming the Krsko nuclear power plant into a public enterprise, thereby usurping the right to decide on all vital issues. The Croatian Government reacted sharply to these moves. It assessed Ljubljana's regulation as one-sided and warned that it violated Croatia's rights and directly interfered in contractual relations which determine the Krsko plant's operations. (Hina) mbr 211307 MET aug 98