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SARAJEVO, April 4 (FENA) – City of Sarajevo and the U.S. Embassy to BiH presented a project today "Mine-Free Sarajevo by the end of 2020", within which eight square kilometers will be cleared in municipalities of Stari Grad Sarajevo, Istočni Stari Grad, Vogošća, Novi Grad Sarajevo and Istočna Ilidža.
U.S. Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson said he is proud that the USA is the main donor of the project, stressing this has been the biggest individual donation for a project over the past ten years.
Nelson finds that this great initiative has the aim to clear Sarajevo and East Sarajevo from war leftovers that disturb reconciliation and development.
Nelson said that significant progress has been made in demining of BiH, that more than 3000 square kilometers have been cleared and that there is around 2 percent of suspicious areas left.
"But still, BiH is the European country affected by mine issue the most," said Nelson.
He emphasized that most countries in the world observe International Mine Awareness Day in an abstract way, but citizens of BiH are very aware of the horror and tragedy mines cause.
"Our imperative is to overcome ideological and rhetoric 'minefields' which prevent citizens from finding the peace they deserve, and courage and bravery to move on," he said.
Ambassador emphasized that the USA is dedicated to stability of BiH, because it is a country that is the biggest donor in area of humanitarian demining and that they have invested more than 115 million dollars in demining and reducing supplies of conventional weapons and ammunition in the entire BiH.
He announced he would visit Glamoč next week, where their weapons and ammunition disposal program is being implemented.
He called BiH leaders to secure resources to enable BiH AF to declare all communities in BiH cleared of mines.
"America remains a partner to BiH in the very important job of securing a permanent peace and we will continue investing to build a peaceful and prosperous future in BiH," concluded Ambassador Nelson.
Mayor of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka emphasized the plan is to clear Sarajevo from landmines by 2020 and the entire BiH by 2025.
"Aim is to search suspicious areas in five municipalities. Tourism is being developed in Sarajevo and it is very important to remove any doubt there are contaminated areas," emphasized Skaka.
Director of the Mine Detection Dog Center in BiH (MDDC) Nermin Hadžimujagić emphasized that they will be performing demining activities and according to his assessment there are several hundred unexploded ordnance in these areas.
"I am certain implementation of the project will be a big step forward in achieving the goal, which is a mine-free BiH by 2025," he concluded.
(FENA) A. B.
