The IRB said on Friday that its director had reservations about such an agreement as she did not want to take on the responsibility for the residents of Zagreb and the institute's employees by allowing such a depot near downtown Zagreb.

The State Office for Radiation Protection demands the signing of an agreement providing for the establishment of a central state storage facility for radioactive waste on the compound of the IRB, which is located in the downtown Zagreb area.

The statement points out that 900 employees and an additional 200 partners work in the institute every day and the institute is located near two busy streets. Director Ramljak cannot accept responsibility for all those people in the event of establishing the permanent radioactive waste depot on the institute's compound.

The agency's statement points to the International Agency for Atomic Energy's directives about not storing radioactive waste in densely populated areas for a long period of time and about locations which should meet requirements for proper transfer of radioactive waste.

"I support the Croatian government's efforts about Croatia's European Union membership bid, but I do not want to sign an unclearly worded agreement, not even at the risk of my dismissal," Ramljak was quoted by the statement as saying.

She also called for holding a debate with experts in the government, adding that the Institute could give its advice in such efforts.

The IRB also stated that for the last ten years the State Office for Radiation Protection and relevant ministries had not managed to find the appropriate solution for the central storage facilities for radioactive waste in Croatia, although the country should do it by 2014, in accordance with the EU regulations.