CRO, CZECH & SLOVENE PRESIDENTS INFORMED OF MINE REMOVAL PROBLEMS

DUBROVNIK, July 10 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and his guests - Presidents of the Czech Republic and Slovenia, Vaclav Havel and Milan Kucan respectively - on Monday arrived in the southern Croatian resort of Dubrovnik to attend the ceremonial opening of the 51st Dubrovnik Summer Festival.#L# Prior to this evening's ceremony, the three statesmen toured the Srdj Hill overlooking Dubrovnik, which used to be the first front line in defence of this famous town against the Serbian/Montenegrin aggression in 1991 and 1992. On Srdj, they met an assistant to the Croatian Mine Removal Centre head, Josip Tulicic, who informed them of the problems Croatia is facing in efforts to clear land mines. Mine-infested areas in Croatia cover 4.5 thousand square metres, namely they are along the former 1280-kilometre-long separation line, Tulicic said. The basic problem in the mine removal job is a lack of money. "Croatia is financing the mine clearance on its own, and of all necessary means last year, 85 percent was ensured by Croatia, while the rest was provided through donations mostly given by the United States," he added. He notified the heads of state of a project of removing mines from the plateau 'Bosanka', financed by the money given by the Czech Government and a US organisation 'ITF'. They have ensured 110,000 dollars for this purpose. On this occasion some mine clearance methods were demonstrated to the three Presidents. Croatia's Mesic told reporters that he hoped this action of mine clearance would attract more public attention and added that it was good that the Czech Republic had shown interest in such endeavours. He called on other countries to follow the example of Prague. Croatian President also thanked the wife of the US Ambassador to Croatia, Mrs. Lynn Montgomery, for initiating a mine clearance campaign in Croatia which has produced exceptional results so far. (hina) ms