LJUBLJANA, June 11 (Hina) - Slovenia's environment and zoning minister said on Monday a Croatia-Slovenia agreement on the jointly owned Krsko nuclear power plant, signed by the two countries' prime ministers last weekend, marked a big
step forward. Minister Janez Kopac took part in Saturday's talks in the northern Adriatic city of Rijeka which saw Croatian PM Ivica Racan and Slovene counterpart Janez Drnovsek settle one of three open issues in the two countries' relations. Kopac told "24 sata" radio Slovenia had made an offer to Croatia to purchase its ownership interest in Krsko, which is located on Slovene territory. Croatia refused. Moreover, said Kopac, the fact that Croatia shares a 50 percent interest cannot be dismissed. We have to accept that and regulate relations, he said, adding a different solution would be expensive due to some DEM200 million Croatia filed in
LJUBLJANA, June 11 (Hina) - Slovenia's environment and zoning
minister said on Monday a Croatia-Slovenia agreement on the jointly
owned Krsko nuclear power plant, signed by the two countries' prime
ministers last weekend, marked a big step forward.
Minister Janez Kopac took part in Saturday's talks in the northern
Adriatic city of Rijeka which saw Croatian PM Ivica Racan and
Slovene counterpart Janez Drnovsek settle one of three open issues
in the two countries' relations.
Kopac told "24 sata" radio Slovenia had made an offer to Croatia to
purchase its ownership interest in Krsko, which is located on
Slovene territory. Croatia refused. Moreover, said Kopac, the fact
that Croatia shares a 50 percent interest cannot be dismissed. We
have to accept that and regulate relations, he said, adding a
different solution would be expensive due to some DEM200 million
Croatia filed in damages for the non-reception of electricity from
Krsko since 1998.
"Even though we believe (Croatia) would never win the damages we
cannot be absolutely certain. In theory it could raise the price of
electricity astronomically. This problem put us on uncertain
ground, which makes me glad that significant headway has finally
been made," said the Slovene minister.
The current draft agreement binds each side to dispose of its waste
from the power plant unless a final joint agreement on this point is
reached, said Kopac. He said agreement was possible, either to the
effect of storing nuclear waste at the current location or
exporting it.
(hina) ha sb