Citing technical data, she told the press at her election HQ that the project would have a high turnover, a low revenue and pose a huge risk for Croatia.
She said the project envisaged the transport of low-quality high-sulphur Russian oil by tankers whose ballast waters were very hazardous for the environment, which she added was unacceptable for Croatia's sea.
Kosor went on to say that according to experts, Croatia could earn a maximum USD30 million from the project, which she added was too little in comparison to the USD800 million it made from tourism in the northern Adriatic Kvarner area alone.
She cautioned that in case of an ecological disaster Croatia would have to spend as much as USD30 million in 10 years to clean the Adriatic, while the indirect damage was impossible to estimate.
Asked why in her capacity as deputy prime minister she did not speak against the project before, Kosor said she had been in charge of other issues but that once she became a presidential candidate the Druzba Adria project became an issue she was interested in.
Asked if her opposition to the project did not clash with her party's stance given that the HDZ boycotted a vote in Parliament on a Party of Rights (HSP) proposal that Croatia walk out of the project, Kosor said the position she stated today was that of a presidential candidate. She added the HDZ had asked in Parliament that experts' opinion be heard before a final decision on the matter was made.