In spite of tensions from the neighbours, Croatia remains determined.
As DuList reports on the 7th of September, 2017, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, is doggedly determined that Pelješac Bridge will be constructed regardless of anything.
”Croatia will build Pelješac Bridge on its territory. It is about 500 meters from the boundary line. There are no legal barriers regarding the beginning of construction. Croatia will build Peljesac Bridge” the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure told the Dubrovnik local publication.
Butković officially opened a conference on the Connecting Europe Instrument (CEF) today in Dubrovnik: ”Achievements, Results and Outlook for the Future”.
”We’ve repeatedly emphasised that no legal barriers exist for the construction of Pelješac Bridge. We’ve repeatedly stressed that Croatia has confirmed the right to safe passage for Bosnia and Herzegovina – all Croatian seas, territorial waters and internal waters, to all ships coming to and from Neum towards Croatia’s ZERP. Likewise, [it is backed up by] Article 45 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea regulating the right to safe passage between one part of the open sea or the exclusive economic zone, in this case the Croatian ZERP and the territorial sea of another country” said Butković, commenting on some of the controversial statements from Bosnia Herzegovina regarding the project, which is of extreme significance for the Republic of Croatia.
”This is what happens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I’d say that it is a reflection of the inner state of that country. I received two letters, one of the Ministers wrote about stopping the construction, and in the second letter, the Justice Minister said there are no obstacles! I would not go [further] into the contents of the letters. In 2006, we already determined, at their [Bosnia and Herzegovina] request, the technical characteristics of the bridge. They were looking for a bridge height of 55 meters, and a 200 meter waterway. We accepted this, and incorporated everything into the Pelješac Bridge project. I think we all had good neighbourly relations back in 2006, and we’re still doing so today, so tensions should be calmed down” stated Butković.
Translated from DuList.hr
