Košarac: The dispute over Trgovska Gora should be resolved diplomatically

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac commented on the Croatian Parliament's approval of the third revision of the program, according to which the Čerkezovac barracks in Dvor remains the preferred location for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Krško Nuclear Power Plant.

"Unfortunately, I must state that the fact that the Croatian Parliament has approved the third revision of the program, according to which the Čerkezovac barracks in Dvor remains the preferred location for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Nuclear Power Plant, is not surprising. However, this decision will not prevent us from continuing with the measures and activities we agreed upon at a joint meeting with the entity ministers responsible for environmental protection, the 'Green Club' parliamentary group, and the Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the mayors of the municipalities in the Una river basin," said Košarac.

The planned disposal site for radioactive and nuclear waste at Trgovska Gora is located in close proximity to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its construction would endanger more than 250,000 residents of the municipalities in the Una basin. This is completely unacceptable, which is the stance of all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"In full commitment to protecting our citizens, this issue is high on my agenda. We must think about the people of Novi Grad, Ključa, Bihać, Prijedor, Kozarska Dubica, Sanski Most, Dvor. We must think about the future of their children and protect the ecology, the Una River, the Una Nature Park, and generally one of the most beautiful natural areas in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aware that we do not have time to sit idly by, I have taken a series of steps in the past period regarding the construction of the disputed landfill, because our citizens expect concrete solutions. In addition to the aforementioned joint meeting, as well as previous separate meetings, I would like to remind you that during a recent visit to Brussels, I discussed this problem with the Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Christian Danielsen, and the Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy, Ditte Juul Jørgensen. I received assurances from them that the European Commission will further engage in resolving the disputed issue and will delegate it as a topic at the upcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb.

Likewise, I will use every upcoming meeting with European officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps in Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss Trgovska Gora in an effort to raise this issue to the highest possible level within the EU institutions," Košarac points out.

He announced that in the coming period, he will dedicate himself to bilateral contacts with the relevant Croatian representatives to the maximum extent.

"I consider it absolutely unacceptable that Croatia does not officially inform the institutions and bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina about its intentions. Good neighborly relations are important to us, and I believe that the best option would be to resolve the disputed issue diplomatically.

At the domestic level, in accordance with the conclusions of the joint meeting, we will initiate the formation of a legal expert team that will represent the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a possible international arbitration with Croatia. I want to emphasize that certain steps have been taken in this direction, about which the public will be informed later.

Also, in the coming period, I will inform the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina about the conclusions from the joint meeting, where, among other things, we proposed to suggest to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to plan funds in the budget for the aforementioned legal expert group," concluded Košarac.