A joint statement on cooperation in reviving and developing navigation down the Sava River was signed in Brčko on Tuesday by Croatian Transport and Development Minister Božidar Kalmeta, Bosnian Communications and Transport Minister Branko Dokić and Serbian Minister for Capital Investment Velimir Ilić.
The statement confirms the need for the countries in the Sava basin to include the development of navigation down the river as a priority in their development policies and strategies.
The statement envisages that Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina act in concert before international organizations in view of promoting goals from the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin.
The document calls on the European Union, donors and financial institutions to financially support the revival and development of navigation down the Sava.
In the joint statement, the three ministers supported the establishment of an international commission for the Sava basin and the activities of the commission in charge of the implementation of the Framework Agreement.
Bosnian Minister Dokić told the press after the three ministers" meeting that the amount of EUR 15.5 million was necessary to establish navigation down the 580 km of the Sava from Sisak in Croatia to where it entered the Danube in Belgrade.
Dokić said it was agreed to revive navigation down the Sava before the five-year deadline envisaged for that purpose.
Minister Kalmeta said navigation down the Sava was of outstanding economic importance for Croatia, and that the river should be upgraded to Navigability Category IV by 2011.
He said Croatia was willing to share the costs of a feasibility study for the revival of navigation down the Sava estimated at EUR 1.2 million. He added Croatia was also willing to set aside a significant sum for works on the river.
Minister Velić said Serbia too would secure the necessary funds to upgrade the Sava to navigability level. (Hina)