Šarović: Use all protection mechanisms, including suing Croatia

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Mirko Šarović, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and President of the Serbian Democratic Party, said today in a statement to BiH media in Sarajevo that the situation regarding the disposal of nuclear waste at Trgovska Gora is complex and that it is legitimate for BiH to raise its voice.  

"The danger is much greater than what is perhaps presented to the public. BiH has the right to speak about this, to possibly elevate this issue to a higher, international level, because we will, in the future, in the decades to come, suffer or not suffer the consequences of the disposal of nuclear waste located just 500 meters from the border with BiH."

As Šarović stated, Croatia, which we respect as a neighbor, has not accepted any of BiH's arguments and demands in the past several years.

"We are not protesting because Croatia is building its own disposal site, but we are raising our voice because it is building it right on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is as if your neighbor placed their garbage, their waste, on the border of your property. That would certainly not be okay. A difficult period lies ahead of us in which we must use all possible means, including international ones, and that the Presidency of BiH elevate this to the highest possible level. No offense to our neighbors, but I believe this is a great interest and need of BiH, and I trust that we will all think in this way."

He said that BiH should be persistent and use various mechanisms.

"I would not hesitate at all about whether we should present this issue more clearly to Brussels, whether we should go to arbitration, or sue someone. They did not hesitate to sue anyone in the region, so why would it be awkward for us to sue them? I think we should step up our activities."

As he stated, the danger is that huge amounts of nuclear waste will be deposited and stored right on the border with BiH.

"This is a country that has a nuclear power plant, and that disposal site will be filled every year. We do not know what will happen in ten, 50, or 100 years, how it will affect the plant and animal world, and people's health. We have nothing against construction, but build it 100 or 200 kilometers inside Croatia," Šarović concluded.