Handover Ceremony in Municipality Gračanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 15 November 2011, H.E. Mr Hideo Yamazaki, Ambassador of the Japan in BIH, Mr Dorijan Marši?,  ITF Director, representatives of BH MAC, Municipality Gra?anica, Municipality Petrovo, Canton Tuzla as well as local media representatives attended the official handover ceremony of demining activities funded by Japan's donation and US matching funds at the locations in Municipality Gra?anica.

In 2009, Government of Japan allocated 200.000,00 EUR for demining and technical survey activities that enabled the clearance of 208.422 square meters of land on the eight locations in Municipality Gra?anica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, with the ITF matching funds for Japan's donation provided by US Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement  additional 5 locations of more than 200.000 sq.meters of land in Municipality Gra?anica were cleared.

Mine clearance activities in Municipality Gra?anica will create basic conditions for construction of a dyke that would prevent flooding of River Spre?a that is the aim of mutual project ‘Clearance and regulation of riverbanks and riverbed’ initiated by municipalities’ authorities of Lukavac, Gra?anica, Doboj, Petrovo and Doboj East. It would also improve safety for local population, working and living in vicinity.
Besides 2009 Japan's donation, 350.000,00 EUR was provided to ITF for demining activities in Municipality Petrovo and Lukavac in 2010. The Government of Japan is also planning to further support demining activities in the amount of 420,000.00 EUR through ITF in Municipalities Biha? and Velika Kladuša in 2011.
In total, the Government of the Japan through ITF donated over € 1,48 million for the support of Mine Action Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina.