KSF marked International Mine Awareness Day

The International Mine Awareness Day was marked at the organisation of the Ministry of Defence Co-ordination Centre of the Republic of Kosovo on April 4, 2019.

The report this day took part: Deputy Defence Minister Agim Ceku, Colonel Shaip Haziri Civil Protection Regiment Commander Ahmet Salova, chief of the Demnim Co-ordination Centre at the Ministry of Defence, Ministry and KSF senior staff, representatives of embassies; US, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Holland and organisations; HALO Trust, NPA, MATT Kosova and KFOR.

Deputy Minister Agim Ceku, on behalf of Minister Berisha and the Ministry of Defence, welcomed the participants in this event and thanked all those who supported and contributed to Kosovo's clearing of mines and other unbroken vehicles. Deputy Prime Minister Ceku also spoke of the importance of demining unbroken vehicles, as well as of Kosovo's mine-clearing plan until 2024. Mr. Ceku, further said that this project is very concrete and very important and that, in co-operation with the Geneva Demination Centre, the strategic plan has been designed, which envisions that by 2024 we will clear all known mine and infected areas of casserole bombs in Kosovo.

The most reliable institution in Kosovo is the KSF, and one of its largest achievements is the very operation of mine mine removal and other unbroken means in Kosovo. So far the KSF's demining units have cleared 52,776,122 square metres and destroyed over 90,500 mines and other explosive vehicles. We should not forget the fact that, as a result of mines and other explosive means in Kosovo, from the time of the war to today, 117 people have lost their lives and 467 have suffered serious physical injuries. The KSF remains committed to clearing every field of mines and other explosive devices”, said Deputy Prime Minister Ceku.

And the chief of the Ministry of Defense's Demment Co-ordination Centre, Mr. Ahmet Salova presented the strategic plan for mine disposal and other explosive devices 2019-2024. , I'm pleased to present the strategic Mine Action Plan and other explosive means for the period 2019-2024 in Kosovo. So the avoidance of risk from mines and other explosives is a prerequisite for the country's reconstruction and use of natural and economic resources.

Mr. Sallova thanked the US and US Embassy for their continued support during the Kosovo cleanup operations, as well as for offering professional donations and training to the KSF Demining Company. He also thanked Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and all other countries that have helped our country in clearing mines and other explosives.

While Asa Massleberg from the National Centre for Deminim in Geneva said the strategic planning process 2019-2024 allows for facilitating operations for Kosovo to meet its first targets in clearing mines and other explosive devices.