EU TO FINANCE MINE-SWEEPING EQUIPMENT IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Feb 1 (Hina) - The European Union decided to finance a special programme aimed at continuing the minesweeping process. The mines represented a growing danger for civilians as well as for NATO troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a spokesman for the EU Office in Sarajevo, Tom Walker, stated Thursday. Walker said that the EU had so far granted $ 725,000 for the removal of mines. IFOR had estimated that more that 3 million live explosive devices, mostly anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, remained in Bosnia. The programme, financed by the EU, is to be used for obtaining mine-sweeping equipment like mine detectors and bulletproof clothes. The equipment will be given to organizations which are in charge of minesweeping. Under the Dayton Peace Accord, the sides which had laid the mines are responsible for their removal. The whole operation is to be supervized by IFOR troops. (hina) lm mm 011902 MET feb 96