With US support, Sarajevo and surrounding municipalities mine-free by 2020

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The City of Sarajevo and neighbouring municipalities will be cleared of mines by 2020, it was said today at a press conference in the City Hall, where the US Ambassador to BiH Eric Nelson and the Mayor of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka officially marked the start of the implementation of the project „Sarajevo without mines 2020“.

Namely, the United States of America has approved funds for demining Sarajevo and neighbouring municipalities in both entities by the end of 2020, and this information was conveyed to the public today, on April 4, International Day for Mine Awareness, by Nelson and Skaka. Demining will be carried out in the so-called suspected areas of five municipalities in both entities - Stari Grad, Istočni Stari Grad, Novi Grad,
Istočna Ilidža and Vogošća.

„Most countries mark this date in an abstract way, but the sad truth is that BiH citizens are aware of the horror and tragedy that mines bring. The US is proud to be the main donor in the Sarajevo without mines project, which is our largest single donation in the last 20 years. This excellent initiative aims to free Sarajevo and Istočno Sarajevo from the legacy of war that hinders reconciliation and development“, said Nelson.

The US, as he said, has invested more than 115 million dollars in demining and destruction of leftover weapons and ammunition projects. The Mayor of Sarajevo, Abdulah Skaka, expressed satisfaction that only six months after signing the Memorandum on Demining between the City of Sarajevo and the American organization „Marshall Legacy Institute“ (MLI), the implementation of this project has begun, and on April 4 – International Day for Mine Awareness.

„We are grateful to the people and government of the United States of America. In this way, our deep, sincere and long-lasting friendship and partnership continues. This is an extremely important project for us
that sends a message of safety and progress, which is a prerequisite for economic progress and development, especially tourism“, emphasized Mayor Skaka, thanking for the previous generous
assistance of the Government of the United States of America and the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement at the US State Department.

The representative of the company MDDC, which will participate in the implementation of the project, Nermin Hadžimujagić, said that eight million square meters of area considered suspicious and dangerous for the population, inaccessible for use and free movement, will be cleared of risk.

"We are confident that the implementation of this project will be a big step forward in achieving the goal set by the adopted Mine Action Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a Bosnia and Herzegovina completely free of mines by 2025", he added.

Prior to the press conference, Mayor Skaka and Ambassador Nelson met with representatives of the municipalities included in the project, as well as representatives of the Demining Commission in BiH, the Mine Action Centre in BiH and partners involved in the implementation of the project.