SISAK SISAK, July 16 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Centre for Mine Clearance (HCR) in Sisak (about 50 kms south-east of Zagreb) and of the Croatian Army's Headquarters, on Friday acquainted a French military delegation of
the system and results of the humanitarian de-mining in Croatia. The French delegation which is paying a several-day-long visit to the HCR in Sisak and to Croatia, was welcomed by the head of the Croatian Defence Ministry's mine clearance commission, Brigadier Slavko Haluzan. He informed guests about an important role which the Croatian Army engineers units had played during the Homeland War until the establishment of this centre in Sisak. After the 1995 liberation operation "Storm", these units began to remove mines, in an organised manner, from roads, power supplies transmission lines, houses and gardens. This was necessary for ensuring safe return of displaced pe
SISAK, July 16 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Centre for
Mine Clearance (HCR) in Sisak (about 50 kms south-east of Zagreb)
and of the Croatian Army's Headquarters, on Friday acquainted a
French military delegation of the system and results of the
humanitarian de-mining in Croatia.
The French delegation which is paying a several-day-long visit to
the HCR in Sisak and to Croatia, was welcomed by the head of the
Croatian Defence Ministry's mine clearance commission, Brigadier
Slavko Haluzan.
He informed guests about an important role which the Croatian Army
engineers units had played during the Homeland War until the
establishment of this centre in Sisak. After the 1995 liberation
operation "Storm", these units began to remove mines, in an
organised manner, from roads, power supplies transmission lines,
houses and gardens. This was necessary for ensuring safe return of
displaced people and normalising the life in liberated areas.
Captain First Class Dubravko Taras notified the French about the
de-mining process from the end of war operations to date.
From 1992 to 1995 Croatian Army's engineers cleared mines from
military barracks, arms depots, airports taken over from the then
Yugoslav Army.
From the "Storm" operation in August 1995 to May 1998, they combed
36 square kilometres, and cleared 37,999 mines and other explosive
devices.
During the mine clearance from 1992 to 1995, 119 soldiers and three
civilians lost their lives, while 586 soldiers and 14 civilians
sustained injuries, Taras added.
An assistant to the head of the Mine Clearance Centre in Sisak,
Josip Tulicic, informed the guests about the system of the
humanitarian mine removal.
So far, 98 percent of this job has been covered by Croatia's own
financial means, Tulicic added.
This year's state budget should earmark 80 million kuna for the
Centre's activities, and in the first six months of 1999 even 70
million kuna have been spent for this purpose.
Tulicic assessed that the economic situation in the country led to a
reduced inflow of financial means to the centre in Sisak, which
affected the volume of works in the mine clearance process.
At the moment, de-mining is being conducted thanks to donations
from international associations and some governments as well as by
a loan of the World Bank, Tulicic added.
He said they had discussed with the French the cooperation between
the two countries in the humanitarian mine clearance in Croatia.
(hina) ms