  Production of J/\psi mesons in heavy ion collisions is considered within the
statistical coalescence model. The model is in agreement with the experimental
data of the NA50 Collaboration for Pb+Pb collisions at 158 A GeV in a wide
centrality range, including the so called ``anomalous'' suppression domain. The
model description of the J/psi data requires, however, strong enhancement of
the open charm production in central Pb+Pb collisions. This model prediction
may be checked in the future SPS runs.
