SISAK, Feb 18 (Hina) - "The Croatian government recognises the problem of mines and is actively working on finding a solution to it", said Premier Ivica Racan at a celebration marking the fourth anniversary of the Croatian Mine Centre
(HCR), based in Sisak, on Monday. He recalled areas suspected of being mine-infested were last year reduced from 4,000 to 1,700 square kilometres, and 42 square kilometres were cleared of mines. He stressed the need for clearing the entire Croatian territory of mines as fast as possible. He pointed out the importance of the international community and non-governmental organisations in helping in de-mining operations, and thanked for the aid. Speaking about the HCR results of the past four years, president of the HCR council, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic, said the HCR was among the best organised and most effective systems of humanitarian de-mining in the world.
SISAK, Feb 18 (Hina) - "The Croatian government recognises the
problem of mines and is actively working on finding a solution to
it", said Premier Ivica Racan at a celebration marking the fourth
anniversary of the Croatian Mine Centre (HCR), based in Sisak, on
Monday.
He recalled areas suspected of being mine-infested were last year
reduced from 4,000 to 1,700 square kilometres, and 42 square
kilometres were cleared of mines. He stressed the need for clearing
the entire Croatian territory of mines as fast as possible. He
pointed out the importance of the international community and non-
governmental organisations in helping in de-mining operations, and
thanked for the aid.
Speaking about the HCR results of the past four years, president of
the HCR council, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko
Vidovic, said the HCR was among the best organised and most
effective systems of humanitarian de-mining in the world. He
reiterated the aim of clearing Croatia of mines by 2010.
The HCR principal, Damir Gorseta, said owing to good results, the
HCR was training representatives of other countries in
establishing mine centres.
Vidovic handed meritorious individuals, institutions and unions
medallions and scrolls of honour at the ceremony. The governments
of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway,
Switzerland, Great Britain and the US received medallions as well
as the European Commission, UNDP, the International Committee of
the Red Cross, the ASB humanitarian association, the World Bank,
the ITF foundation from Slovenia, Vukovar-Srijem County, the
Croatian Red Cross, the Croatian Radio Television, the Vecernji
List daily, INA oil company, the Rotary Club from Karlovac, USAID
and individuals.
(hina) np sb