Minister Košarac: Croatia wants to avoid BiH's stance in the Trgovska Gora case, I demand urgent reactions from competent institutions

(Patria) - The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH has not received any official information from Croatia regarding the request for instructions on the content of the environmental impact study for the radioactive waste disposal facility at Trgovska Gora, stated the relevant minister Staša Košarac.

"I immediately instructed the Legal and Expert Team to react promptly and with priority in order to protect the interests of the citizens of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH. I demand that they hold urgent sessions and inform the secretariats of the competent conventions during the day that Croatia is violating rights and disrespecting the interests of BiH in this manner," Minister Košarac said.

He also requested an urgent reaction from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Elmedin Konaković, and emphasized that he informed the Ambassador of BiH to Croatia, as well as the Ambassador of Croatia to BiH, about the new situation, with whom he requested a meeting as soon as possible.

"BiH institutions have the capacity to react and will react. We will not allow BiH's unified stance in the Trgovska Gora case to be bypassed. There is no surrender, we will fight and we will not stop here," Minister Košarac said.

He assessed that it is unacceptable for Croatia to spread disinformation to the public that it has informed the competent institutions in BiH, while the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH has no official information.

"This act by Croatia has no elements of good bilateral relations, but rather further damages them. Such an attempt by Croatia to avoid a reaction from BiH is mean and perfidious, especially considering their claim that there is no transboundary impact in the Trgovska Gora case," stated Minister Košarac.

According to him, the new situation represents a repeated policy of official Zagreb towards BiH when it comes to the construction of the disputed landfill at Trgovska Gora.

"Croatia initially ignored the positions of Republika Srpska, when it was the only one in this process. Now they obviously want to bypass the stance and reaction of the competent institutions of BiH. We will not allow them to do that. That is why I demand a prompt reaction from the Legal and Expert Team, as well as other competent institutions. Protecting the health of our citizens and the environment is a zero priority and we will not give up on that," concluded Minister Košarac.