ZAGREB ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - The heads of mine removal centres from countries in the region met in Zagreb on Thursday to exchange information on mine removal technologies. Addressing a news conference after the meeting, the
president of the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) Council, Drazen Budisa, expressed satisfaction with the meeting, which was attended by representatives from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and several international organisations. "Since we all share the same problem, we have established a co-ordination body with the aim of exchanging data, technologies and experience in the mine removal process," Budisa said stressing the use of mine removal machines and mine removal procedures in suspicious areas were the main topics of today's meeting. International Trust Fund director Yerney Cimpersek recalled that his foundation had on Wednesday signed a contract with the European Commission on the donation of two
ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - The heads of mine removal centres from
countries in the region met in Zagreb on Thursday to exchange
information on mine removal technologies.
Addressing a news conference after the meeting, the president of
the Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) Council, Drazen Budisa,
expressed satisfaction with the meeting, which was attended by
representatives from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and several
international organisations.
"Since we all share the same problem, we have established a co-
ordination body with the aim of exchanging data, technologies and
experience in the mine removal process," Budisa said stressing the
use of mine removal machines and mine removal procedures in
suspicious areas were the main topics of today's meeting.
International Trust Fund director Yerney Cimpersek recalled that
his foundation had on Wednesday signed a contract with the European
Commission on the donation of two million euros for the removal of
mines from the Sava River. This EUR4 million-worth project will
also benefit Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, thanks to ITF
regulations which stipulate that the United States should double
every donation, he said.
A representative of the UN programme for mine removal assistance
(UNMAAP), Richard Todd, said Croatia's mine removal programme was
the most successful of its kind in the world and the establishment
of the coordination body was a step toward the establishment of
one's own programme of exchange of information in the region, which
would attract foreign investors.
So far, Croatia has financed most of its mine removal projects alone
and this programme will certainly help attract foreign investors,
Todd said.
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have equally large mine-infested
areas - 4,500 square kilometres with as many as one million mines
each, it was said at the conference.
Croatia has drawn up a programme under which, if everything goes as
planned, the process of mine removal would be completed until 2010
and cost almost 10 billion kuna.
The president of Albania's mine removal centre, Arben Braha, said
the war in Kosovo had resulted in 1,400 hectares of mine-infested
areas in Albania.
(hina) rml