MONTENEGRO SIGNS 3 PROJECTS FOR REMOVAL OF MINES FROM PREVLAKA

PODGORICA, Feb 21 (Hina) - Montenegro on Thursday signed three projects about the removal of mines from the area bordering with Croatia on the peninsula of Prevlaka. The projects were together drawn up by Croatian and Montenegrin experts, said Veselin Mijajlovic, the head of the international mine action centre in Montenegro. #L# "The project for the mine clearance along the land section of the frontier with Croatia is financed by the United States and should be wrapped up by 1 June at the latest, so as to ensure the unimpeded flow of people, goods and capital," Mijajlovic said adding that all had already been agreed in Dubrovnik on 13 February, and Thursday's signing of the project was only a part of efforts to carry out agreed activities. He said that a final agreement was reached on removing mines under the sea. Under the agreement, Croatian divers are expected to comb the sea areas until 20 metres off the coast and Montenegrin experts will do the job until 50 metres. After that, joint teams will inspect the de-mined zones. The clearance of the sea areas from mines should be completed by 1 April. The Croatian Mine Action Centre director, Otto Jungwirt, and U.S. officials from the American consulate in Montenegro attended the ceremony of signing of the three projects. (hina) ms