Statement by the Justice and Peace Commission Croatian Conference of Bishops

The new bill proposals for water and water management funding have not provided safeguards against the uncontrolled privatization of water resources, a strategy for the export of water to countries that have a recognized need for a supply of drinking water, or safeguards against the illegal and uncontrolled extraction of gravel and sand from pumping sites. This has opened the way for highly interested multinational companies, as well as some socially and morally irresponsible local businessmen, to earn extra profits at the expense of the remaining national nonrenewable and renewable resources, warns the Commission.

At the session of the Justice and Peace Commission, there was concern due to increasing attacks against the Church and the right to express opinions, and support for the willingness of the Croatian political institutions, the parliament and government to resolve the unresolved issues with neighboring countries in the spirit of the existing international law and arbitration rulings of the Badinter Commission.