KNIN, Oct 23 (Hina) - In the presence of numerous foreign and local observers, 5820 anti-infantry mines were destroyed at the 'Crvena zemlja' military exercise base near Knin Wednesday.
KNIN, Oct 23 (Hina) - In the presence of numerous foreign and local
observers, 5820 anti-infantry mines were destroyed at the 'Crvena
zemlja' military exercise base near Knin Wednesday. #L#
As Brigadiers Zvonko Brigljevic and Vinko Stefanak who headed the
operation said, there is not one mine in any warehouse in Croatia
and the only mines in Croatia are those in areas that have not been
cleared of them as yet or are maybe hidden in houses.
Suzan B. Walker of an international mine clearing programme (ICBL)
that was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 told reporters
that Croatia had destroyed its last stocks of mines and with that,
taken an important step setting an example to the entire region so
that countries infested with mines can take steps using their own
resources and technology to rid themselves of mines. It is
especially pleasing to point out that Croatia fulfilled its
obligation to destroy any reserves of anti-infantry mines five and
a half months prior to the expiry of the Ottawa Convention on the ban
on the use or creation of reserves or production of mines.
Since the Ottawa Convention came into force in on March 1, 1999,
more than 204,405 anti-infantry mines have been destroyed in three
phases including today's fourth and last phase.
(hina) sp it sb