Slovaks to discuss river dam

Vienna (Reuter) - Slovakia said yesterday it was ready to discuss the controversial Gabcikovo hydro-electric project on the Danube with Hungary and to suspend work on a barrage diverting water away from the river.

'We are willing to suspend work until an international commission checks the technical problems of the project and we are open to further negotiations,' the Slovak Prime Minister, Vladimir Meciar, said. International experts arrived at the dam site in accordance with an agreement between Hungary and Czechoslovakia that the European Community should inspect it.