ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - At the request of all benches, Croatia's parliament on Friday began debating a HSLS bill on the termination of a law ratifying a Croatia-Slovenia agreement on investing in, the use and dismantling of the
jointly-owned Krsko nuclear power plant.
ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - At the request of all benches, Croatia's
parliament on Friday began debating a HSLS bill on the termination
of a law ratifying a Croatia-Slovenia agreement on investing in,
the use and dismantling of the jointly-owned Krsko nuclear power
plant. #L#
The president of the Social Liberals (HSLS), Drazen Budisa, said
presenting the bill that the ratification of the agreement had been
this government's worst move.
With the deal Croatia has agreed to write off US$300 million
Slovenia owes for not delivering electricity, he said, adding:
"Poor is Croatia with a government which treats its property and
Croatia's national interests in this way."
Recalling the agreement bound Croatia to dispose of nuclear waste,
Budisa said Slovenia's parliament had been eight months behind the
Sabor in ratifying the deal, during which time another $50 million
had been incurred in debts.
He also recalled the government had said it would annul the
agreement if the Slovene parliament failed to ratify it by 2003.
Slovenia ratified the deal only a few days ago.
Budisa denied claims that the HSLS, by proposing to annul the
ratification, wanted to strain relations with Slovenia. The HSLS
wants to protect national interests, he said, adding Slovenia had
breached every deal on Krsko since 1974.
Budisa said that while electricity was not being delivered to
Croatia, it was sold to others.
He recalled that Slovenia's environmental protection minister had
said his country would terminate the ratified deal if Croatia
failed to build a waste disposal site by 2008, which is a condition
the European Union puts before countries with nuclear power
plants.
Ljubo Cesic Rojs of the Croatian Democratic Union accused members
of the two countries' governments and some Croatian MPs of having
shared amongst themselves the $300 million Croatia did not get for
undelivered power.
Sabor president Zlatko Tomcic said if MPs had evidence about state
officials' criminal activities, they should submit them to the
State Prosecutor's Office.
Earlier today, parliament unanimously adopted the government's new
state budget law, which all benches endorsed yesterday.
A HSLS bill on the establishment of an agency for formerly war-
struck areas was turned down with a majority vote, with the
conclusion that conditions required for the functioning of such a
body had not been met.
(hina) ha