Košarac informed Croatia: BiH will submit its requests regarding the environmental impact assessment of the Čerkezovac landfill

(Patria) - BiH Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac officially informed Croatia today that BiH will participate in the environmental impact assessment procedure for the disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel at Trgovska Gora.

Namely, Minister Košarac responded to a letter from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia, in which the competent institutions of BiH were informed that the Croatian side is conducting a procedure to determine the content of the study on the environmental impact of the disposal of radioactive waste at the Čerkezovac location on Trgovska Gora.

"In the official letter I sent to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Croatia, I clearly stated that BiH intends to participate in the environmental impact assessment procedure, and that, respecting the deadlines, we will submit our requests, remarks, and key questions to the Croatian side, which should be considered in the environmental impact study of the disposal of radioactive waste at Trgovska Gora," Minister Košarac said.

He added that, in accordance with the procedures, he also contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH to also deliver BiH's official response to the Croatian side through the diplomatic-consular network.

"After we have taken the first necessary step in a timely manner, I now insist on maximum engagement and ask the Expert and Legal Team to, respecting the defined deadline, submit adequately prepared requests, remarks, and questions that we will send to the Croatian side," emphasized Minister Košarac.

He added that the members of the Expert and Legal Team for Trgovska Gora will be in Novi Grad next week.

Minister Košarac also announced that next week he will hold talks with the competent institutions from the Federation of BiH, after previously holding consultations with the institutions of Republika Srpska in Banja Luka.

"I expect that through agreement and engagement of the relevant entity institutions, we will start exploring the terrain in the territory of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH within the next ten days. Our priority is to preserve the health of our population and the environment. We will not give up on activities to prevent Croatia's intention to build a controversial landfill at Trgovska Gora," concluded Minister Košarac.