EXIM TO DIVIDE KRSKO DEBT EQUALLY BETWEEN CROATIA, SLOVENIA

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Hina) - Exim Bank has decided to divide the Krsko debt equally between Croatia and Slovenia and waive a mutual guarantees clause, Croatian Finance Minister Bozo Prka said today. The debt was raised for the construction of the Krsko nuclear power plant, built in the early seventies as a joint venture between Croatia and Slovenia. "Exim Bank agreed to include the Croatian share of the debt, amounting to US$ 105 million, in negotiations with the Paris Club," Prka said following talks with Exim Deputy President Bernard Lubran. He described the decision as "politically significant." "This removes the main obstacle in talks with the Paris Club," Prka said. Minister Prka and National Bank Governor Pero Jurkovic today met World Bank Deputy President for Europe, Wilfried Thalwitz, and Europe Department Director Kemal Dervis. Prka and Jurkovic wanted to draw the first installment of an emergency 128-million dollars reconstruction loan before the end of the year. Also discussed was a road construction loan. (hina) mm as 151116 MET dec 94