employee in the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris.

CME is the majority owner of Czech television programme and broadcast provider Ceska Nezavisla Televizni Spolecnost of which Dr. Vladimir Zelezny was the former executive and general director. The company has issued a statment that Dr. Zelezny was fired last Monday for "exceeding his authority and acting against the interest of CNTS''.

The company's claim seeks the return of more than $23 million paid to Dr.

Zelezny plus other unspecified damages.

President and CEO of CME's parent company Central European Media Enterprises Ltd., Fred Klinkhammer, said under ICC Court rules the company's pleading in the arbitration had to be kept confidential.

"I can say, though, that the claims arise out of some of the same actions by Dr. Zelezny that prompted his dismissal from CNTS earlier this week, plus related actions that we believe violated Dr. Zelezny's contractual obligations and personal undertakings to CME,'' he said.

Under the company's share purchase agreement CME was entitled to "undo'' its 1997 purchase of Dr. Zelezny's CNTS shares by requiring him to "forgive'' the $5.5 million unpaid balance of the $28.5 million purchase price, he said. Mr.

Klinkhammer claims the former employee should also "return the more than $23 million that CME has already paid to him in exchange or the return of the CNTS shares CME has obtained from him''.

"Dr. Zelezny's breaches also entitle CME to obtain damages for all other losses his unauthorised and improper actions have caused to CME.''