ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, May 14 (Hina) - A working group for trade of the Energy Charter Treaty's Secretariat in Brussels on Tuesday recommended that Slovenia and Croatia solve the issue of corridors for the transport of oil through Croatia
through bilateral talks, as it was recommended after a discussion by the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Council on Trade in Goods.
ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, May 14 (Hina) - A working group for trade of the
Energy Charter Treaty's Secretariat in Brussels on Tuesday
recommended that Slovenia and Croatia solve the issue of corridors
for the transport of oil through Croatia through bilateral talks,
as it was recommended after a discussion by the World Trade
Organisation's (WTO) Council on Trade in Goods.#L#
This was stated on Tuesday by Kresimir Cerovac, head of the energy
department at the Croatian Economy Ministry, who was representing
Croatia in the body.
The issue of oil transit through Croatia was included in the agenda
at the request of Slovenia, which believes that Croatia has
violated the regulations of the Energy Charter.
According to Cerovac, Croatian officials presented the measures
Croatia had taken and its expectations, emphasising that the
country had not violated the Energy Charter because the same
procedure and corridors apply to all hauliers. At the same time,
members of the working group were informed of the fact that after
the introduction of oil corridors the intensity of the transport of
energy products did not decrease, but it increased instead, Cerovac
said. He said that after his presentation, nobody registered for a
discussion.
The chairman of the working group therefore concluded the session
recommending that Croatia and Slovenia solve the issue through
bilateral talks.
Cerovac reminded that the Economy Ministry had informed the
Croatian government of Slovenia's request that the transport of oil
and oil products also be allowed over Rupa and Pasjak border
crossings, and that the government would consider the request.
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 was
solved by allowing oil transit under special conditions, over the
border crossing of Izacic.
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