Minister Golić: Croatia Ignores Appeals from BiH, Pollution of the Una River Threatens

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister for Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of Republika Srpska Srebrenka Golić said today that they learn from the media what is happening with the project of disposing of radioactive waste from the Krško nuclear power plant, for which Croatia has designated the Čerkezovac barracks on Trgovska Gora, immediately adjacent to the border with BiH.

"We were never informed about this by the authorities. Eminent professors from Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Tuzla have written objections, but the Croatian side never deigned to respond to us. There was an ignorant attitude towards all our initiatives regarding this issue. We expect that, in accordance with the conclusion of the Presidency of BiH and today's conference, we will send a final appeal to the authorities of the Republic of Croatia to activate those locations that were once in their proposal. The Republic of Slovenia proposed to them locations on the border of Croatia and Slovenia at the site where the nuclear waste is generated, which is natural for storage there," said Golić.

The minister emphasizes that by 2023, Croatia must dispose of and store its half of the waste somewhere.

"This means that it would be most expedient and ecologically best for them to store that waste at the place of origin, which is the Vrbina site, for which they would receive EU funds, rather than mobilizing 230,000 residents, both in RS and FBiH, who live exclusively from agriculture and their own work. The local population draws water from the Una River basin. When it comes to the Una River, it has been declared a natural asset and a nature park, and the Una National Park is located nearby. Is it natural for the authorities of one country to want to pollute the pearl of Krajina, to destroy everything that people have cultivated? Where could they market their products? Their lives would be meaningless," states Golić.

She explains that the location chosen by Croatia is geologically unsuitable for storing and warehousing this type of waste because it is water-permeable, intersected by watercourses that flow into the Una River, and above all, the soil is classified as having a seismic intensity of six or seven on the Mercalli scale.
 
"If we are united and demand that this be relocated for the sake of good neighborly relations between BiH and Croatia, I believe that the Republic of Croatia will, through its bodies, reconsider its initial decision and that this waste will be disposed of at a location where ecological, seismic, and geological parameters are suitable for disposing of this type of waste."