Asbestos Production in Vranjac Continues

22 February 2006

Last week, upon prior agreement by the Ministries of Health and Economy, the asbestos factory �Salonit� in Vranjac received approval for continued production of asbestos products. The approval was granted in spite of the fact that asbestos and related compounds was official included in the list of toxic materials maintained by the Ministry of Health.

The asbestos production was suspended on 1 January, when the new List of Toxic Materials entered into force. The first version of the List prohibited the production, commerce and use of asbestos and asbestos products. However, the suspension of production in the factory also means that 180 workers at the factory will lose their jobs, together with loss of value of stock reserves in raw materials and final products. The decision, naturally, caused great turmoil with the employees.

As a result, the Ministry of Health released a revised version of the List on 14 February, which prohibits only the sale and commercial use, and not the production of asbestos products, providing for continued work of the factory. �Salonit� will be able, therefore, to produce banned materials, i.e. toxic waste.

The Barbarinac environmental association and the Association of Persons with Asbestosis protested against the decision yesterday. The decision, according to the two associations, marks the total moral and human fall of the members of the Government, since they accepted to share the responsibility for future illness and death of many workers of �Salonit�, but also ordinary citizens of Vranjac, Split, Solin and Kastela.

They add that the working permit and the approval of continued production is a scandal of unseen proportions. They find the main reason for such behaviour not in the incapacity of the Government, but in the fact that the Cabinet Members have openly protected the interests of the owners of the company.

�It is incredible that today, at the beginning of the 21st Century, a Minister of Health, charged with the obligation to protect the health of ALL citizens, would decide to legalize the killing of people, giving in to blackmail of the owners of the factory and several misguided workers, totally disregarding the fact that over 200,000 people living within a 11km circle around the factory (internationally accepted contamination zone) are exposed to toxic effects of the asbestos�, states the public statement issued by the two organizations.

The associations invite all citizens of Croatia, especially those involved in civil society organizations to support them in the fight for their right to life. They also invite the political parties to condemn this legalize killing of people and take all the necessary measures to remove the responsible from office.