ISSUE OF OIL TRANSPORT STILL WITHOUT SOLUTION

ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Economy Ministry will inform the government of Slovenia's request that the transport of oil and oil products also be allowed over Rupa and Pasjak border crossings, and it is up to the government to decide about the request, Assistant Economy Minister Olgica Spevec said after Wednesday's meeting of the two countries' expert groups on the oil transit issue. #L# Slovenia has proposed that the corridor Rijeka - Rupa border crossing and the corridor over Pasjak border crossing be opened for the transport of oil and oil products and it expects the Croatian government to discuss the issue and inform the Slovene side about its decision as soon as possible, said the state under-secretary in the Slovene Environmental Protection and Zoning Ministry, Olga Marinko. The issue of oil transport will be included into the agenda of a session of a body called the Agreement on the Power Charter, to be held in Brussels on May 13 and 14. Slovenia does not intend to withdraw its request until the problem is solved and is ready to take further steps, if necessary, Marinko said. Spevec reiterated that issues regarding the transport of oil and oil products should be solved in bilateral talks, as recommended after a discussion of the World Trade Organisation's Trade Council. By amending regulations on the transit of dangerous substances early this year, Croatia limited the transport of hazardous substances, including oil and oil products, and determined border crossings and corridors for their transport. The measures have provoked reactions by neighbouring countries, particularly Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The dispute with Bosnia has been solved by allowing oil transit under special conditions, over the border crossing of Izacic. (hina) it sb