NEW YORK, Nov 19 (Hina) - Croatia strongly supports the continuation of the process which started with the Ottawa conference on banning anti-personnel mines, Croatia's Ambassador to the United Nations Ivan Simonovic told a session of
the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. Simonovic supported better engagement of the U.N. and all member-countries in the mine-removal process, the prohibition of their use, production, trade and storage. Confirming Croatia's determination to eradicate anti-personnel mines, Simonovic said the country organised a regional conference on anti-personnel mines in June this year. Simonovic said Croatia was faced with the danger of mines planted on its territory during the Serbian aggression. It is believed that more than one million mines have been planted on about 10 per cent of the country's territory, he added. The Croatian ambassador also acquainted the
NEW YORK, Nov 19 (Hina) - Croatia strongly supports the
continuation of the process which started with the Ottawa
conference on banning anti-personnel mines, Croatia's Ambassador
to the United Nations Ivan Simonovic told a session of the UN
General Assembly in New York on Thursday.
Simonovic supported better engagement of the U.N. and all member-
countries in the mine-removal process, the prohibition of their
use, production, trade and storage. Confirming Croatia's
determination to eradicate anti-personnel mines, Simonovic said
the country organised a regional conference on anti-personnel
mines in June this year.
Simonovic said Croatia was faced with the danger of mines planted on
its territory during the Serbian aggression. It is believed that
more than one million mines have been planted on about 10 per cent of
the country's territory, he added.
The Croatian ambassador also acquainted the General Assembly with
the work of the Croatian Mine Removal Centre and its cooperation
with the centre the United Nations opened in Zagreb in 1996.
"Mine removal and other demining activities in Croatia have so far
cost Croatia some US$150 million", Simonovic said, adding only 10
per cent of the money was provided by international organisations.
He reminded of some assessments saying it would take another decade
of hard work to remove all mines and expressed hope the
international community would increase its financial support to 20
per cent next year.
A total of 560 people were involved in mine-related incidents, and
120 of them lost their lives, Simonovic said.
(hina) rml