CROATIA'S, BH'S DEMINING CENTRES SIGN COOPERATION MEMORANDUM

SISAK, May 4 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Demining Centre and Bosnia-Herzegovina's (BH) Mine Removal Centre on Thursday signed a memorandum on international cooperation. The two agencies thus agreed on mutual cooperation, exchange of knowledge, experience, and capacities in mine-clearing, with consent and support from the two countries's foreign ministries. The memorandum stipulates the establishment of a joint regional mine-clearing centre which will be in touch with the international community and donor-countries. Speaking about the memorandum, HCR manager Damir Gorseta said today's signing in Sisak was a continuation of the successful anti- mines cooperation between the two countries and the two state agencies. Croatia has 4,500 and BH about 4,000 square kilometres of mined territory. "Paramount in the cooperation is the mine-clearing of the state border where bridges and border crossings are being reconstructed," Gorseta said. "We will establish a joint training programme for pyrotechnists and a joint training centre for pyrotechnists, lower level management and mine-clearing group leaders. We have also agreed to establish a joint centre for the testing of new mine-clearing technologies in Croatia, while in BH we will implement a training programme for mine search dogs," Gorseta said. (hina) ha mm