MRS MONTGOMERY VISITS CROATIAN DEMINING CENTRE

SISAK/PETRINJA, April 25 (Hina) - United States ambassador to Croatia's wife Lynn Montgomery on Tuesday visited the Croatian Demining Centre (HCR) in Sisak and a work-site near Petrinja in central Croatia. Mrs Montgomery, who was accompanied by friends and potential donors for mine-clearing in Croatia, was received by HCR manager's assistant for international cooperation Josip Tulicic. Tulicic acquainted his guests with this year's mine-clearing programme, an improved humanitarian mine-clearing system, anti- mine actions, and a mine victim assistance system. Montgomery said she wanted to see the progress of mine-clearing in the Petrinja area, and agree on an impending visit by California- based wine manufacturers interested in making donations to the mine-clearing of vineyards and arable land in war-damaged areas. My wish is to once again support Croatia and HCR in their efforts in mine-clearing and protecting returnees to pre-war homes from falling victim to mines, Mrs Montgomery said. HCR's Tulicic thanked Mrs Montgomery for her significant and high donations. Thanks to Mrs. Montgomery's unselfish urging, about 180,000 of square metres in the Zadar hinterland have been cleared of mines, at the cost of US$360,000, he said. (hina) ha