ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday expressed satisfaction that the number of mine victims in 2000 had decreased and demanded more funds for demining as well as increased engagement of local demining units and
higher salaries for mine removal experts. In continuation of its 12th session, the Sabor unanimously adopted a Report on mine removal in 2000 and funds which have been spent for that purpose. The funds, MPs agreed, were spent economically and transparently. Almost 40 percent more mine-infested areas were cleared of mines last year than the year before. In that process, nine people were killed, seven were seriously wounded and six suffered light injuries, which is 30 victims less than the year before, said the head of the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR), Damir Gorseta. Last year's demining activities cost some 186 million kuna, and had there been more funds, more
ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday expressed
satisfaction that the number of mine victims in 2000 had decreased
and demanded more funds for demining as well as increased
engagement of local demining units and higher salaries for mine
removal experts.
In continuation of its 12th session, the Sabor unanimously adopted
a Report on mine removal in 2000 and funds which have been spent for
that purpose. The funds, MPs agreed, were spent economically and
transparently.
Almost 40 percent more mine-infested areas were cleared of mines
last year than the year before. In that process, nine people were
killed, seven were seriously wounded and six suffered light
injuries, which is 30 victims less than the year before, said the
head of the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR), Damir Gorseta.
Last year's demining activities cost some 186 million kuna, and had
there been more funds, more areas could have been demined, said
Gorseta, adding that Croatia should be cleared of mines by 2010.
The deputies voiced full support for this goal stressing Croatia
should seek more foreign donations for that purpose and pay more
attention to the problems of mine removal experts and raise their
salaries.
Gorseta stressed that the Defence Ministry was training a unit of 50
men who would be demining military facilities.
Deputy Interior Minister Josip Vresk informed the MPs that the
government had sent into parliamentary procedure a bill on
humanitarian demining, which envisaged that the Interior Ministry
would continue participating in the removal of mines. This, Vresk
stressed, does not mean that the number of mine removal experts will
be reduced.
The parliament today also adopted a physical plan of the national
park Brijuni, assessing that the document protects the park's
natural beauties and at the same time creates conditions for their
commercialisation.
The Sabor continued the session with a debate on a final bill on
changes to the Law on Sports.
(hina) rml