SWISS GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT DEMINING ACTIVITIES IN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 7,2007) - The Swiss Government continues to support the organization for humanitarian demining “Norwegian People’s Aid” (NPA). The Ambassador of Switzerland to Bosnia Rolf Lenz, visited several demining sites, and announced that his government will support NPA in 2008 with another half a million Swiss Francs.

“The Swiss Government is aware of the fact that mines not only pose a great danger to the people, but also a great obstacle to the development of a country. In an effort to help Bosnia, we have been continuously supporting NPA and demining activities for years,” Lenz said.

Ambassador Lenz has signed an agreement on the new financial contribution with the Regional NPA representative for the Southeastern Europe, Emil Jeremic. This contribution will allow for demining activities to continue in the Canton Sarajevo.

After the implementation of this project, NPA will have demined a total of 2.150.000 m2 in Canton Sarajevo in the period 1999 - 2008. The Swiss Government supports also a demining project in the southern Bosnia through which targeted areas in the Municipalities of Stolac and Berkovici will be demined, and economic development will be fostered, the Swiss Embassy announced.