ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - By proclaiming an ecological and fishing zone in the Adriatic, Croatia would get the same level of legal protection at sea as if it proclaimed an exclusive economic zone, while at the same time it would protect
its national interests and "blunt" objections from the EU, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic said in parliament on Friday.
ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - By proclaiming an ecological and fishing zone
in the Adriatic, Croatia would get the same level of legal
protection at sea as if it proclaimed an exclusive economic zone,
while at the same time it would protect its national interests and
"blunt" objections from the EU, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan
Simonovic said in parliament on Friday. #L#
The government's decision to proclaim an ecological and fishing
zone would protect all rights of interest to Croatia, and Croatia
would get a protection instrument identical to the one it would get
were it to proclaim an economic zone in the Adriatic, said
Simonovic.
He explained that the difference between the two zones was only
nominal. An ecological and fishing zone comprises a number of
economic zone functions, while the EU is opposed to an exclusive
economic zone.
Simonovic said the protection offered by the economic zone referred
to the use of the seabed and the making of artificial islands or
other platforms, which he added was already guaranteed by the
epicontinental belt proclaimed in 1968 by the then Yugoslav
federation and Italy.
Simonovic went on to say that the management of fish stock, the
environment, and scientific research were fully protected by the
government's latest decision as well as by the U.N. Convention on
the Law of the Sea.
The only difference between proclaiming an economic zone and a
fishing area lies in the production of tidal energy, sea currents,
and windmills which can be built at sea, said the deputy minister.
He added, however, that sea currents in the Adriatic were not
sufficiently profitable for technological use, as neither were the
tides nor windmills, at least today.
The proclamation of an exclusive economic zone is based on the logic
of exclusivity, to which the EU is opposed, insisting on protection
through international cooperation, Simonovic said.
He added Europe also objected to disagreements with neighbours,
accusing Croatia of making unilateral moves before a conference on
Europe's future fishing policy due to take place in Venice later
this year.
Simonovic went on to say such objections would be "blunted" if it
were decided that the ecological and fishing area should come into
force one year after its proclamation, which would give ministries
time to prepare the enforcement of the decision, legally and
technically, as well as time to negotiate the catch and the zone's
borders with neighbours.
Croatia would thus attend the Venice conference on Nov. 25 with
protected interests, accepting all aspects of the conference in
accordance with its national interests, Simonovic said.
(hina) ha sb