CRO, SLOVENE EXPERTS DISCUSS TRANSIT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

LJUBLJANA, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatian and Slovene experts met in Ljubljana on Monday to discuss the transit of hazardous substances by road in Croatia, which prompted the authorities in Ljubljana last month to lodge a protest note with and complain to some international institutions. Ljubljana believes that the Croatian government's regulations on the transit of hazardous substances are not in line with the World Trade Organisation regulations and are discriminatory against Slovenia's oil and chemical industry due to increased customs control. An assistant to Croatia's Economy Minister Olgica Spevec said the Slovene side had failed to provide arguments for their claim that Croatia's regulations on the transit of dangerous substances of January 24 were contrary to the WTO regulations. She added that the two sides had agreed to hold another meeting in about two weeks, at which Slovene experts would try to provide arguments for their stand that Croatia was violating the WTO rules on the transport of dangerous substances. Spevec said today's meeting was a step forward which enabled the continuation of meetings on the level of experts. She explained that the measures had been adopted because other states had them as well and because they protected environment and tourism. It has been agreed that Croatia send a set of Croatian regulations, translated into English, referring to transport, and customs tariffs. A sub-secretary at the Slovene Economy Ministry, Dimitrij Grcar, who headed Slovene experts at the talks, said the Slovene stand on the dispute remained the same. The Slovene side is still waiting for clearer explanations of claims that the measures were adopted due to environmental concerns or oil smuggling, he said. (hina) rml