SLOVENE PRESIDENT SPEAKS ON CROATIAN RADIO

( Editorial: --> 4679 ) ZAGREB, Nov 29 (Hina)- On occasion of his re-election as Slovene President, Milan Kucan gave a statement to the Croatian radio and commented relations between Croatia and Slovenia. "The relations are fine in principle," Kucan said, especially stressing that the economic relations were "exceptionally satisfactory". He said there were insolvable issues between the two countries, adding that it was primarily the issue of border at two locations (Torindov Vrh and Piranski Bay), the issue of the "Krsko" nuclear power plant, debts of the former Zagreb-based Ljubljanska Banka branch office to Croatians , and the issue of the construction of the Pirnska highway, which is of secondary importance to Slovenia. Kucan said last year's trade between the two countries amounted to about US$ one billion. The prepared agreement on free trade between Croatia and Slovenia would improve the exchange of goods, he added. Prepared agreements on the protection of the environment and on avoiding double taxation were also a guarantee to companies from both countries for an even better economic cooperation, Kucan said, stressing that problems between the two countries could be solved only through agreements and compromise. (hina) lm jn 291847 MET nov 97