LOWER HOUSE ADOPTS NATIONAL ANTI-MINE ACTIVITY PROGRAMME

ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Hina) - The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously adopted a national programme on anti-mine activity, which is aimed at removing mines from all mine-infested areas in Croatia by 2010. There are 600 square kilometres of mine-infested areas in Croatia and another 3,900 suspicious locations. For all areas to be cleared of mines, Croatia needs 9.5 billion kuna, said Croatian Mine Action Centre head Damir Gorseta. There are 17 mine-removal companies and 12 mine-removal machines in Croatia, which is sufficient for demining 20 square kilometres annually, he added. By adopting this programme, Croatia has become one of 65 mine- endangered countries which have complete demining programmes. The programme should help attract international donations so that the burden of demining does not fall exclusively on the state budget, Gorseta concluded. Most deputies agreed that the programme is complete and that its priorities and dynamics are well-defined. However, some believe that it is also too ambitious and would be difficult to implement by 2010. Some deputies asked that all mine removal experts be treated equally and Anto Kovacevic of the Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) bench suggested that mine removal experts be included into the accelerated retirement plan. He also proposed that customs tariffs be cancelled for imported mine removal equipment as well as that VAT not be paid for demining costs. Croatia should seek reparations from Belgrade as soon as possible to obtain funds for demining, Kovacevic believes. The lower house today also adopted a law on libraries. (hina) rml