SISAK SISAK, Sept 20 (Hina) - Delegations of the Swedish defence ministry and Minnesota visited the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) in Sisak and a mine removal site near Petrinja, east of Zagreb, on Wednesday. The foreign
representatives and HCR officials discussed the system of humanitarian demining in Croatia and the assistance provided so far by the international community for mine removal in Croatia. HCR assistant director for international cooperation Josip Tulicic informed the Swedish delegation, which was led by Assistant Minister Yvonne Gustafsson and also included Swedish Ambassador Ingemar Borjesson, about the system of humanitarian demining. Tulicic thanked the Swedish government and people for their assistance and support to Croatia in fighting mines. He stressed Sweden's important role in the Western Europe Union Mission for mine removal in Croatia (WEUDAM), which is headed by Sweden, especia
SISAK, Sept 20 (Hina) - Delegations of the Swedish defence ministry
and Minnesota visited the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) in
Sisak and a mine removal site near Petrinja, east of Zagreb, on
Wednesday.
The foreign representatives and HCR officials discussed the system
of humanitarian demining in Croatia and the assistance provided so
far by the international community for mine removal in Croatia.
HCR assistant director for international cooperation Josip Tulicic
informed the Swedish delegation, which was led by Assistant
Minister Yvonne Gustafsson and also included Swedish Ambassador
Ingemar Borjesson, about the system of humanitarian demining.
Tulicic thanked the Swedish government and people for their
assistance and support to Croatia in fighting mines.
He stressed Sweden's important role in the Western Europe Union
Mission for mine removal in Croatia (WEUDAM), which is headed by
Sweden, especially the role of its first head, Colonel Olle Broman,
and his contribution to improving HCR's work and the system of
humanitarian demining.
Tulicic also commended the very good cooperation with the new head
of the mission, Colonel Bengt Ale Gelin, adding Croatia still
needed assistance in demining so that it could remove all mines by
2010.
The head of the Swedish delegation, Yvonne Gustafsson, said Sweden
was interested in WEUDAM's activities in Croatia, HCR's
organisation and the system of humanitarian demining. She added
Croatia could expect further assistance by Sweden in the removal of
mines and creation of conditions for normal and safe living in war-
stricken areas.
HCR's Tulicic also met a delegation of Minnesota, which was headed
by Minnesota's Vice Governor Mae Shunk. The two sides exchanged
experience regarding mine removal and the US delegation expressed
interest in providing assistance for demining in Croatia.
Accompanying the delegations was Diana Plestina, the wife of
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan, who is actively supporting
humanitarian demining and encouraging international associations
and the international community to help Croatia with financial
donations, equipment and experts.
(hina) rml