CROATIAN GOVERNMENT SETS UP DEMINING COMMISSION

ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - About three million mines and unexploded shells have been planted in almost a quarter of Croatia. More than 1,000 people with 250 to 300 vehicles are de-mining those areas of Croatia. However, Croatia needed at least 2,500 to 3,000 pyrotechnists who would be able to clear most mines in next eight to ten years, said the Croatian Government demining commission head, retired General Zvonimir Cervenko. Speaking ahead of the commission's founding session on Tuesday, Gen. Cervenko said that out of 57,000 square kilometers of Croatian territory, almost 13,000 square kilometres were mined with two million mines and about a million of various unexploded shells. "Last year just about five square kilometres were cleared of mines, and it shows how many people and how much time and money we need for this job," Gen. Cervenko said and cited the example of Poland that had finished demining of its areas some 30 years after the end of WW II. According to him, the government commission should promote cooperation with the UN centre for demining in Croatia, which has the data base and is ready to cooperate. The commission should also enable several Croatian and foreign companies to engage in the demining and use the readiness of the international community to assist in mine clearance in Croatia. Croatian pyrotechnists were generally well equipped, Gen. Cervenko responded to a reporter's question. But, Croatia should immediately buy several 'robots' that could independently de-mine plane areas of the Croatian Danubian region where about 80,000 hectares were mined, he added. (hina) mm mš 251920 MET feb 97