ITF continues with Cluster Munitions Clearance in Serbia
After a successful completion of demining activities in Serbia, ITF continues with cluster munitions clearance. Thus, in second half of 2010, 813.050 square meters of land were additionally cleaned and returned back to local population through ITF, with U
After a successful completion of demining activities in Serbia, ITF continues with cluster munitions clearance. Thus, in second half of year 2010, 813.050 square meters of land were additionally cleaned and returned back to local population through ITF, with U.S. donation. These areas are located in municipalities Vladimirci (Jalovnik), Kraljevo (Bapsko Polje), Brus (Ravnište) and Sopot (Bobije). The last location of this project has been cleaned at the end of October 2010.
As part of its strategic plan, the ITF will continue raising funds for cluster munitions clearance in Serbia also in year 2011. ITF strives to extend activities of cluster munitions clearance to other areas of the world. To this end, the ITF delegation attended on the first meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions between 9th and 12th November 2010 in Laos, where ITF has been officially granted status of an observer organization to the Convention. Mr Dorijan Marši?, ITF Director, expressed support for actions under the Convention, which represent an additional effort by the international community in disarmament and clearance of explosive remnants of war.
As part of its strategic plan, the ITF will continue raising funds for cluster munitions clearance in Serbia also in year 2011. ITF strives to extend activities of cluster munitions clearance to other areas of the world. To this end, the ITF delegation attended on the first meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions between 9th and 12th November 2010 in Laos, where ITF has been officially granted status of an observer organization to the Convention. Mr Dorijan Marši?, ITF Director, expressed support for actions under the Convention, which represent an additional effort by the international community in disarmament and clearance of explosive remnants of war.
In 2009, the ITF has successfully completed demining programs in Serbia and Albania, with more than 18.8 million funds raised and implemented. In cooperation with international community and proactive national mine action institutions ITF managed to achieve goals, set by the end of 2009, thus 4 countries in SE Europe achieved mine free status, namely Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Most funds for mine action are still earmarked for one of the most contaminated countries in the world, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
ITF Plan for 2011 is very ambitious targeting to raise and implement actions totaling more than 30 million Euros in SE Europe and other regions. In line with ITF Strategy 2009-2013, the primary task remains fund raising, managing donations from public and private donors and their implementation in mine action programs, focusing on the successful completion of the work in SE Europe. At the same time ITF is expanding activities to other areas, such as programs of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and the fight against violence and terrorism, as a result of illegal ownership and use of small arms and light weapons.