PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS ABOUT MINE DANGER PRESENTED IN CROATIA

SISAK, Feb 22 (Hina) - Television and radio promotional programmes about danger of land mines were presented on Tuesday in the town of Sisak (some 50 kilometres south-east of Zagreb). The presentation of this clips was organised by the Croatian De- mining Centre (HCR), the Croatian Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Croatia's Education Ministry, the UNICEF mission in Croatia and the United Nations' programme for the assistance in mine clearance. Money for the production of seven TV videos and ten radio messages, which will be broadcast by Croatian national and local electronic media, has been ensured by the ICRC and the Norwegian government. The Sisak-based Croatian De-mining Centre marked its second anniversary with today's presentation. The event was inaugurated by the Centre's head, Damir Gorseta, who stressed that besides removal of mines, another task of this centre is to acquaint people with dangers of land mines, warn them that such devices still pose threat to people's lives and property, and help local population behave responsible in the areas which had been stricken by war. Since the start of the Homeland War to date, mine explosions have caused 1,500 casualties. This includes both military persons and civilians. In 1999, a total of 51 casualties were registered. The death toll was 21. Three mine removal experts were injured and two were killed. Norway's Ambassador Knut Morkved expressed satisfaction that his government was taking part in instructions about mine danger. Last year, Norwegian authorities offered considerable assistance to Croatia for mine clearance and equipped the Centre in Sisak with computer technology, the Norwegian diplomat said adding that Oslo would continue to help Croatia in this field. Besides him, Canadian Ambassador to Croatia Donald Smith was also present at Tuesday's event in Sisak. (hina) ms