ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatia has rejected Slovenia's new +conditions for the resumption of electric power supply to Croatia +from the Krsko nuclear power plant, Croatian Economy Minister Nenad +Porges told Hina on Wednesday.+
Porges believes resolving problems related to the delivery and +price of power would only draw the two parties further apart from +reaching a solution to the key problem, which are ownership +relations.+ Built by joint Croatian-Slovene funds at the time of the former +Yugoslavia, the Krsko plant, located on Slovene territory, has been +the cause of disagreement between Croatia and Slovenia with regard +to plant management and establishing the price of electric power, +and the fact whether Croatia co-owns or invests into the plant.+ In July this year, the Slovene power supply company switched off +transmission lines from Krsko to Croatia with the explanation that +
ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatia has rejected Slovenia's new
conditions for the resumption of electric power supply to Croatia
from the Krsko nuclear power plant, Croatian Economy Minister Nenad
Porges told Hina on Wednesday.
Porges believes resolving problems related to the delivery and
price of power would only draw the two parties further apart from
reaching a solution to the key problem, which are ownership
relations.
Built by joint Croatian-Slovene funds at the time of the former
Yugoslavia, the Krsko plant, located on Slovene territory, has been
the cause of disagreement between Croatia and Slovenia with regard
to plant management and establishing the price of electric power,
and the fact whether Croatia co-owns or invests into the plant.
In July this year, the Slovene power supply company switched off
transmission lines from Krsko to Croatia with the explanation that
Croatia was indebted to the plant. That same day, the Slovene
government issued a decree proclaiming Krsko a public company.
Croatia interpreted the decree as a case of nationalisation of part
of its ownership, and decided it would not take electricity from
Krsko as long as the decree remained in force.
Last Tuesday, the Slovene Economy Ministry supplied Croatia with a
memorandum on conditions for the resumption of power delivery from
Krsko, claiming the memorandum was the result of intensive inter-
state contacts.
"Today I replied to (Slovene Economy) Minister Dragonja saying
Slovenia's latest offer was unacceptable for Croatia," Porges told
Hina.
In the last six weeks, Porges and Dragonja discussed on several
occasions the delivery of electricity and a final solution
concerning the plant's status.
Croatia's negotiations with Slovenia are headed in two directions,
Porges said. The first is an inter-state agreement on Krsko's
ownership status, while the second is an operational problem
referring to electricity delivery to Croatia, which also includes
the electricity price issue.
"My personal standpoint is that solving this operational problem
would put a cross on an inter-state agreement on Krsko," said
Porges.
At a meeting held last August, Porges and Dragonja agreed they would
try to find a solution to the problem within three months. Porges
however believes it will not be feasible by November 25.
The Economy Minister pointed out that further negotiations could
lead to a satisfactory solution.
(hina) ha jn