Croatian MPs Did Not Go To Moscow for Negotiations

Premier Sanader decided that Polancec will not go to Moscow, but a joint EU representative will represent Croatian and EU interests.

SPLIT, CROATIA - The Croatian premier Ivo Sanader said today in Split that a Croatian delegation did not travel to Moscow for negotiations for the supply of gas, because an agreement was made late last night that European Union representatives will represent Croatia.

Joint decision

Sanader said that during the night between Friday and Saturday he talked via telephone to various premiers of EU member nations, who were planning to go to Moscow, but it was decided in the end that there will not be a meeting in Russia.

“I would have travelled to Moscow today if the premiers I contacted did so, but after it was decided that they will not travel, I gave up on the meeting in Moscow” explained Sanader.

He reminded that the Croatian oil and gas company Ina has a contract with the Russian Gazprom until 2010.

“We do not have a reason to negotiate a deal that was signed, and we expect that it will be respected.

We expect that the gas we pay for be delivered, because Croatia does not have debt for it” said Sanader to the press. He added that Croatia expects that the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine will end and that Croatia will start to receive gas.

“We do not have anything else to discuss” added Sanader.

Agreement on intervention import of gas

If there is a further blockade, our duty is to secure additional quantities of gas, said the premier, and reminded that Croatia has already received gas from intervention imports.

Sanader said that Croatia is already preparing a new contract for gas supply from Russia after 2010, after the current contract expires, but stressed that Croatia will not focus on them, but will seek other supply paths as well.

When asked by the press if Croatia’s ambassador to the UN is responsible for Croatia not getting gas from Libya, Sanader answered: “As far as I remember, Jurica is not a member of Ina’s board, and Ina is responsible for the supply of gas.