KOŠARAC: THE LEGAL BATTLE WILL CONTINUE

SARAJEVO, December 15 /SRNA/ - Competent institutions at all levels of government in BiH will invest additional efforts to prove that the disposal site at Trgovska Gora is absolutely impermissible and unacceptable, while the legal battle based on the positions of BiH institutions will continue through an international law firm, Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac told SRNA.

"The expert team will receive additional instructions," Košarac said, noting that the introduction of reciprocal measures is also an option that should be considered.

He stressed that the Croatian Parliament today supported an absolutely unacceptable law that marks an unlawful entry into the final phase of a political project in the form of a planned radioactive waste storage facility at Trgovska Gora.

"Despite our warnings and open opposition, Croatia continues to violate international conventions and threatens to endanger public health, the environment and overall security, both on the territory of Croatia and on the territory of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH," Košarac warned.

He said it is a fact that Croatia's actions are seriously undermining good-neighbourly relations and that this issue threatens to become an open dispute.

"We do not believe in Croatia's good intentions, but such decisions will not discourage us. We are continuing the fight against the disputed disposal site at Trgovska Gora," Košarac said.

He recalled that BiH, as a neighbouring and directly affected country, was not included at all in the decision-making process regarding the disputed site selection in the border area, nor was it seriously consulted in line with international legal norms, which represents a significant violation of the obligations under the Espoo and Aarhus Conventions.

Košarac said that the Secretariat of the Espoo Convention must react.

"We will not give up because the interests of our citizens, the protection of their health and the environment are our top priority," Košarac emphasized.

The Croatian Parliament today adopted the Law on the Construction of a Radioactive Waste Management Centre at Trgovska Gora.