GENEVA, March 22 (Hina) - The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Council for Trade in Goods discussed oil transport by road in Croatia at a session on Friday. The debate on Croatia's regime of oil transport was requested by
Slovenia.
GENEVA, March 22 (Hina) - The World Trade Organisation's (WTO)
Council for Trade in Goods discussed oil transport by road in
Croatia at a session on Friday. The debate on Croatia's regime of
oil transport was requested by Slovenia. #L#
In a document submitted to WTO members Slovene representative
Dimitrij Grcar reiterated his government's dissatisfaction with
the regime which, he said, violated some of the WTO's basic
regulations.
Grcar severely attacked the Croatian government and accused it of
"illegality and attempts to deal with corruption and crime within
its borders by adopting regulations which are contrary to
international obligations," Croatia's representative at the WTO,
Spomenka Cek, said in a statement.
Deputy Economy Minister Olga Spevec told Hina the debate was
"unusually heated, with no real arguments offered," and the
Croatian side dismissed it.
In her speech, Spevec explained the material she had previously
distributed regarding the harmonisation of Croatia's regulations
with the WTO's. She informed the organisation's members about
bilateral negotiations with Slovenia during which the Croatian
side tried to solve open issues with the aim of developing good
neighbourly relations.
Spevec also expressed regret about the stance and conduct of the
Slovene side and its wish to solve the issue before international
institutions "starting only from the interests of their country and
without taking into consideration the legitimate right of another
country to legitimately protect its economic and ecological
interests", the statement said.
The WTO Council considered the two sides' statements and called on
them to open a dialogue, considering it the best means of solving
open questions.
(hina) lml