On 9 July 2007, Ambassador Dimitris Kourkoulas visited the Entities’ Civil Protection Administrations (CPA) joint de-mining centre, to view de-mining equipment, machinery and human and canine teams. The visit was part of the ceremony marking the end of the eighth and final phase of the EU’s de-mining programme.
The visit was hosted by Mr. Alija Tihić, Director of the Federal CPA and Mr. Dragan Tupajić, Director of the RS CPA. Since 1998, the EU has provided around 23 million Euro for the de-mining programme, with funding for physical de-mining, training and equipment. It was implemented by a German NGO in its initial phases, and subseqently by the entity CPAs. The 2003 Exit Strategy agreed between the EC and BiH governments ensured the sustainability of the de-mining capacity built through the EC and other donors, such as Japan and Canada. The Exit Strategy established a sliding scale of co-funding for future phases and is a prime example of the local authorities assuming ownership and working in co-operation.
In this eighth phase, the EU provided grants of 330,000 Euro to the Federal CPA and 170,000 Euro to the RS CPA, with the Federation of BiH government contributing 1,957,656 Euro and the Republika Srpska government 1,100,202 Euro.
At the closing ceremony, Mr. Alija Tihić presented the concrete results achieved to date by the Federal CPA, with some 3,700,000 m2 of land and 1,000 buildings cleared, and over 229,000 unexploded ordonances and some 21,500 assorted mines removed and destroyed. He noted, however, that this task must continue for many years to come.
Mr. Dragan Tupajić noted that for their part, tthe RS CPA has disposed of around 191,000 unexploded ordonances, clearing 2,305,000 m2 and 850 buildings. They have also mobilised for 42 quick response actions to save civilians.
Ambassador Kourkoulas, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to BiH, praised the results achieved by the entity CPAs and in particular the de-miners, who are doing a dangerous but vitally important job. He noted that one third of the citizens of BiH are still living in mine-impacted communities and that mine contamination represents a serious impediment for economic development. He congratulated the authorities and technical experts of BiH for the results achieved so far – notably the Multi-Annual Country De-mining Strategy – and urged al l those involved to maximize the effectiveness of resources, which have become more limited.
