CROATIA IS PREPARED FOR INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION IF NECESSARY

( Editorial: --> 2456 ) ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - The relations between Croatia and Slovenia should be considered in an atmosphere of good-neighbourly relations and friendship, deputy Croatian Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader pointed out in the Croatian National Parliament House of Representatives question time. Sanader expressed his readiness to discuss the relations with Slovenia in the Parliament. If a bilateral agreement on open issues is not reached, Croatia is prepared for international arbitration, he stressed. A Slovenian Government decree by which the Krsko nuclear power plant, which is mutual property of Croatia and Slovenia, is to be turned into a Slovenian public company, is unacceptable for Croatia. Croatia is also prepared for international arbitration for the border issue in the Piran Gulf, Sanader said. "Croatia is not holding any negotiations which would jeopardise its interests. In case of international arbitration, we are confident that our arguments are strong enough to back our demands", Sanader pointed out. Asked about the restructuring of the Dubrovacka Banka, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa said that the restructuring and business activities of the bank are proceeding well. The "Globus Grupa" was among the deptors to the Dubrovacka Banka. At the moment of restructuring, "Globus Grupa" owed DEM200 million, Matesa noted. The Bank Management offered an agreement according to which the "Globus Grupa" could pay back a part of its dept by selling assets, including the newspaper agency in Split, "Slobodna Dalmacija". The realisation of the agreement should have started at the beginning of this month. If everything does not proceed as planned, an adequate legal procedure will be initiated. 231439 MET sep 98