SISAK, May 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) and its Council support most requests presented by mine removal experts at a protest gathering in Zagreb on Thursday, because it has the same requests, HCR director Oto
Jungwirth told reporters in Sisak on Friday.
SISAK, May 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) and its
Council support most requests presented by mine removal experts at
a protest gathering in Zagreb on Thursday, because it has the same
requests, HCR director Oto Jungwirth told reporters in Sisak on
Friday. #L#
HCR supports the request of mine removal companies and experts that
a new law on demining be adopted and the operation of mine removal
companies harmonised.
Commenting on problems in realising planned donations, Jungwirth
said the Ljubljana-based non-government association for
humanitarian demining, ITF, was to provide 37.5 million kuna
(EUR4.93 million) and the European Union 19.5 million kuna (EUR2.56
million) for demining in this year's second and third quarter.
However, the funds were not allocated because the donors realised
that the companies had offered the same prices in public bids.
Companies for mine removal and mine removal experts unions must
ensure full transparency and market openness if they want the share
of donations in demining funds to increase, Jungwirth said.
The lack of donations has in no way jeopardised the fulfilment of
obligations from the National Mine Action Programme, under which
Croatia should be cleared of mines by 2010 and demining activities
never stopped for a moment, he added.
In the most critical period, from 5 to 11 May, 15 projects were
underway, which resulted in a kilometre and a half of mine-infested
area being cleared of mines, he said.
(hina) rml sb