Košarac in Brussels: Construction of a nuclear repository at Trgovska Gora is unacceptable

BRUSSELS, (Patria) - The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Staša Košarac, spoke today in Brussels with the Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy, Ditte Juul Jørgensen, on the issue of constructing a repository for nuclear and radioactive waste at the Trgovska Gora site.

Minister Košarac informed his interlocutor that all levels of government in BiH agree that Croatia's intention to build the controversial repository in close proximity to the border with BiH is unacceptable, and that the Ministry he heads is the contact point for resolving this bilateral issue with the neighboring country, which will be a priority in his work as the responsible minister.

He also informed the Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy about the meetings he initiated in January with the entity ministries responsible for environmental protection, MPs from the "Green Club", and the management of the Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety of BiH, with the aim of jointly planning future activities.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that Croatia did not consult with BiH when adopting strategic documents on the disposal of nuclear waste at Trgovska Gora, and that the EU has taken the position that Croatia must inform the European Commission of its final decision, and that the EU will monitor its activities in this context.

The interlocutors concluded that the EU should make an additional effort and suggest to Croatia that it include BiH in consultations regarding the construction of the controversial repository at Trgovska Gora.

Minister Košarac expressed hope that this bilateral issue with Croatia will be resolved diplomatically in the spirit of good neighborly relations. In this regard, he emphasized that a similar problem was previously recorded between Italy and Slovenia, but that it was resolved with the help of the EU, which he assessed as a good practice that should be applied in the case of BiH and Croatia.