'NIGHT OF A THOUSAND DINNERS' DEMINING FUNDRAISER HELD IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Nov 9 (Hina) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Croatia on Saturday evening organised a fund-raiser at Zagreb's Sheraton hotel, to collect money for the demining of an area planted with landmines and other explosive devices during the 1990s Homeland War. #L# The event, held under the auspices of the United States and Canadian embassies, was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his wife Dijana Plestina and numerous officials from diplomatic social and economic life. Every person attending the event, called "Night of a Thousand Dinners", had to donate a minimum 500 kuna (about 65 euros). The funds will be doubled by the Canadian and United States embassies, as has been the case before. The fund-raiser was sponsored by Diners Club Adriatic. "Night of a Thousand Dinners" has been held world-wide since 2001 with the aim to raise money for demining in the world's six most mine-infested countries -- Croatia, Afghanistan, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Cambodia, Mozambique, and Vietnam. The Croatian Mine Action Centre estimates there are about 700,000 mines planted in the country, the clearing of which will take another seven years minimum. (hina) it