"Under Russian laws, the government must not interfere in companies' management. We have recommended to the refinery's management to open their door and show the problems they have had and to say what measures they are taking to prevent possible accidents," the Russian minister told a news conference after a working meeting of the Croatian-Russian commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.
The authorities of the eastern Croatian town of Slavonski Brod have warned that the town on the left bank of the Sava River is being exposed to excessive air pollutants emitted from the oil refinery in the Bosnian town of Bosanski Brod across the river.
Puchkov said that Russians were also alarmed over the news about air pollution in Croatia, as many of them spent their holidays or did business in Croatia.
The Russians are also outraged by this issue, hundreds of thousands are on vacation here, many have firms or real estate, the Russian official said, adding that a task force had been set up to investigate the situation and inform the Russian and the Croatian public of its findings.
Cacic added that orders had been issued to investigate the situation and the refinery was told to show the difficulties it was faced with and the measures it was taking to improve the situation.
The two ministers also discussed possibilities for Croatia to have a connection to the planned South Stream natural gas pipeline that is aimed at delivering gas from Russia to central Europe.
A task force was set up to define positions and procedures concerning the agreement signed by the cabinet of former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.
"In 2010, Kosor signed the agreement on that connection. There was no mention on the trunk pipeline. Croatia, unfortunately, refused the trunk pipeline," Cacic said.
"We have opened this topic again and pointed to benefits for Croatia in that case," Cacic said, explaining that now that Russia had signed an agreement with Hungary on the pipeline route after Croatia's refusal, "nothing has been changed, unfortunately", the Croatian minister said.
The lateral branch has not the dimension of the trunk pipeline but it is also important, and now we are to cooperate on the connection so as to ensure high-quality supply, and this is in the interest of the Russian and the Croatian side, Cacic said.
He said the two countries were also considering the possibility of Russian investment in the thermal power plant in Sisak and commissioning special ships.