The Croatian Mine Action Centre (HCR) achieved its set plan last year and reduced the number of mine suspected areas by a further 70 square kilometres, the centre's CEO Mladen Crnkovic told the media on Wednesday.
The total area still suspected of containing land mines encompasses is 681 square kilometres and if all goes to plan this should be rid of mines by 2019.
In addition to an improved financial situation and with the current available human resources, the national programme could be met by 2019 and 1.3% of Croatia's land suspected of containing land mines, could be cleared, Crnkovic said.
He added that this year's plan has been created and despite the difficult economic situation in the country, funding for mine clearance would not be reduced. As soon as the snow melts, our people will be ready to go out into the field, he said.
Last year around HRK 244 million from the state budget and form IPA funds was spent in mine clearing. A little more than HRK 22 million came from various donations.
One civilian fatality occurred last year due to a land mine and a HCR pyrotechnist was also killed, which brings the total count of those killed by land mines in Croatia to 508.
