Apart from Zagreb, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) also published the report called Landmine Monitor 2005 in Algiers and Madellin (Columbia). The report says that international funding for mine action increased to 399 million US dollars in 2004, adding however, that much of this increase was due to the declining value of the US dollar which was why many donor countries had problems in maintaining the same level of financial support.
Most of the countries with the mine problem are far from finishing the job, so strong political commitment from both mine-affected abd non-affected countries is required if the states are to meet their obligations to mine clearance , said Sara Sekkenes of Norwegian People's Aid and Research Coordinator for Mine Action.
"Comprehensive national plans and sustained funding are needed to ensure that all mine-affected areas are cleared as quickly and efficiently as possible," she said.
In line with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which has 147 states parties, countries with mines mist clear their territory within ten years after joining the treaty, and the first deadlines will expire in 2009.
According to the Landmine Monitor 2005, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and another 12 states are in a group of countries that are to demine their territory by 2009 but they "appear not to be on the course to meet their treaty-mandated deadlines for clearance of mined areas"
The draft programme of Croatia's mine action requests that 346 square kilometres of known mine fields be cleared of mines by 1 March 2009.
Government must double efforts to complete mine removal within the deadline, Sekkenes said.