During the presentation of the project "Croatian safe steps - CROSS II", the completion of demining in the Split-Dalmatia County was also celebrated.
"Today we are here to mark one of the final stages of a national effort that has lasted almost three decades - the fight against mines, the legacy of war that has threatened security, development and the lives of citizens for decades, and we can proudly say that we are close to the goal - a mine-free Croatia," said today, April 11 in Split, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Dr. Davor Božinović, during the presentation of the strategic demining project Croatian safe steps - CROSS II.
He recalled the investments and demining costs to date in the amount of more than 1,1 billion euros, of which a quarter of the amount was secured from European funds, and emphasized that the funds mentioned are primarily an investment in human safety and economic potential, and he also referred to the casualties - since 1989, more than 600 people have been killed by mines, 207 of whom have died, including 40 deminers.
"With the Croatian safe steps - CROSS II project, worth more than 77 million euros, we are completing the demining of the most demanding forest and mountain terrains and will soon be announcing CROSS III, aimed at removing explosive remnants in former military warehouses," said the minister.
In conclusion, he pointed out that the completion of demining is planned by March 1, 2026, and that even after its completion, Croatia, through the transfer of acquired knowledge and experience, will continue its international role.
The ceremony, along with numerous guests, was attended by State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds Kristina Bilić, Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia Andrea Čović Vidović, Director of the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting of European Union Projects Dragan Jelić, County Prefect of Split-Dalmatia Blaženko Boban, Director of the Civil Protection Directorate Damir Trut, Director of the Directorate for Material and Financial Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior Andreja Benić, and Deputy County Prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County Mihael Jurić.
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Božinović presented County Prefect Boban with a certificate of completion of demining of the Split-Dalmatia County and the symbolic "last mine", thus officially declaring this county free of mines and explosive ordnance.
Currently, the total mine-suspected area covers less than 50 km² and is located on the territory of 14 cities and municipalities that are contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance within 2 counties, Lika - Senj and Sisak - Moslavina, with the fact that the mine danger has been removed from the area of Karlovac County, and the remaining mine-suspected area refers to the area within three cities and municipalities that are exclusively contaminated by unexploded ordnance (UXO) inside military warehouses.
The beneficiary of the CROSS II project is the Ministry of the Interior, and it is operationally implemented by the Civil Protection Directorate, with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund through the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021 - 2027. The total value of the project is EUR 77.138.476,61, of which 62% is co-financed by EU funds, and its goal is to demine a total of 48,5 km² of forests and forest land from mines and unexploded ordnance in the Karlovac, Lika-Senj, Sisak-Moslavina and Split-Dalmatia counties, with more than half of the planned demining operations having been completed so far.
Photo: MUP
