Donor Recognition Reception
held at SMAC
On December the 20th 2019, in the premises of the Mine Action Center of the Republic of Serbia, in honor of donor countries U.S.A., Japan and the Republic of Korea, as well as ITF Enhancing Human Security, and in recognition of their contribution to humanitarian demining operations in the Republic of Serbia in 2019, a donor recognition reception was held.
Ambassador Anthony F. Godfrey is the first U.S. Ambassador to visit the Mine Action Center since its founding in 2003, as is the case with Japanese Ambassador Junichi Maruyama, and Korean Ambassador Hyoung-chan Choe.
ITF Enhancing Human Security was represented by Director -Ambassador Tomaž Lovrenčič.
Among those present were media representatives, too.
Desire to continue successful cooperation and support to solve problems related to mines and explosive remnants of war in the Republic of Serbia was expressed, aimed, first of all, at increasing safety of people, but also, safe exploitation of forests, cultivation of agricultural land, cattle breeding and implementation of significant infrastructure projects.
Considering the scope and complexity of mine and ERW issues, as well as the lack of funds to solve them, the assistance of international donors is of great importance and the Government of the Republic of Serbia highly appreciates it.
On this ocassion, Director of SMAC, Mr Bojan Glamočlija, handed appreciation certificates to Ambassadors of U.S., Japan, Republic of Korea and ITF Enhancing Human Security for the support of their countries to humanitarian demining in the Republic of Serbia in 2019.
As a reminder, owing to national funds allocated by the Government of the Republic of Serbia for humanitarian demining operations in 2019, which, through the ITF have been matched by donations from the United States and the Republic of Korea, as well as owing to donation by Japan, which for the first time supports humanitarian demining in Serbia, in 2019, 5 Mine Action Center projects have been implemented - 2 demining projects and 3 cluster munitions clearance projects.
Two demining projects in the Municipality of Bujanovac, totaling 587,800 m2, were completed, with 20 mines and 15 UXO being found and safely destroyed
Cluster munitions clearance project from the Medoševac site in Niš, area 119.344 sqm, was completed and 4 cluster bombs BLU 97 were found and safely destroyed, while one cluster munitions clearance project in the Raška municipality, area 190.359 sqm, and one cluster munitions clearance project in the municipality of Sjenica, area 94,496 sqm, are to be implemented in the coming months.
