The International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was marked on Thursday in Zagreb's Cvjetni Trg square and on that occasion it was pointed out that although it took a long time and was a costly process, mine clearing was important because of citizens' safety and economic development.
The event in Zagreb was organised by the Croatian government's Office for Mine Action and the Mine Action Centre (HCR) and was attended by President Ivo Josipovic, Priime Minister Zoran Milanovic, First Deputy Prime Minister Vesna Pusic and Veterans' Affairs Minister Predrag Matic.
President Josipovic inspected the HCR stand and highlighted that Croatian society was aware of the dangers of land mines left after the nineties war and that a "great deal had been done".
"Unfortunately, the biggest problem is money and today we still have large areas infested with land mines but a great deal has been done and the results are obvious", President Josipovic said.
It is estimated that one more county will be mine free by the year's end and that a realistic objective was for Croatia to be free of mines in a few years' time.
PM Milanovic stressed that the fight against land mines was expensive but that Croatia could serve as a good example of how to integrate knowledge and experience.
First Deputy Prime Minister Pusic congratulated all those involved in mine clearing because they had contributed to raising awareness of the danger of mines. She thanked all those countries that have contributed with funding for mine clearance.
She added that mine clearance could utilise additional funding from the European Union within the scope of funding for irrigation projects.
HCR Director Drazen Jakopec informed that there are still some 680 square kilometres suspected to be infested with 74,000 land mines in 12 counties or 95 towns and municipalities. All suspect areas are clearly identified and marked.
HCR explained that it had a special education programme that is conducted in schools to warn children of the danger of land mines. Today it handed out special information pamphlets to citizens warning of the danger of land mines.
Since 1991, 1,975 people have fallen victim to leftover mines. Of these, 509 were killed. Fortunately, the number of victims is lower each year.
The UN General Assembly in December 2005 proclaimed 4 April as International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action with the aim of reaffirming its commitment to a world free from the threat of mines and other remnants of war and to show solidarity for victims of land mines.
Croatia endorsed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction or commonly known as the Ottawa Treaty in December 1997 and the Sabor ratified the Treaty in 1998.
At least 120,000 various land mines and explosive devices were left behind after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and today represent a real threat to more than 500,000 citizens who live in that country, the Mine Action Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHMAC) reported on Thursday also marking mine awareness day.
