Key developments since May 2002: A national
Landmine Impact Survey began in October 2002 and is due to be completed in
December 2003. In May 2003, the area suspected to be contaminated by mines and
unexploded ordnance was estimated at more than 2,000 square kilometers. The
Council of Ministers in April 2003 approved a demining strategy for BiH for 2002
to 2010, which has the objective of freeing BiH from the threat of mines and UXO
by 2010. Six million square meters of land was cleared in 2002. Weapons caches
containing landmines continue to be uncovered in BiH. In 2002, landmine/UXO
incidents killed 26 civilians and injured 46 others, a decrease from the 87
casualties in 2001.
Mine Ban Policy
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(BiH)[1] signed the Mine Ban
Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it on 8 September 1998, becoming a State
Party on 1 March 1999. Since then, national implementation legislation has been
under development, but delayed by political changes. No target completion date
has been given.[2] Activities
prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty are purportedly already subject to penal
sanction under the existing criminal code at the Entity level, but not at the
State level.[3]
BiH attended the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002. A
Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative reaffirmed the commitment of BiH
“to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines” and “to
effectively implement the Convention and to comply fully with its
provisions.”[4]
BiH attended the Standing Committee meetings in February and May 2003. On 5
February 2003, the BiH delegation gave an update on progress in mine clearance
and reported that “significant progress” had been made during 2002
through the adoption of new legislation that formally established the Demining
Commission and made the BiH Mine Action Center (BHMAC) centrally responsible for
mine action.[5] In April 2003,
BiH submitted its Article 7 transparency report for calendar year
2002.[6]
BiH voted in favor of the November 2002 United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 57/74 calling for universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban
Treaty.
BiH is a State Party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its
Amended Protocol II, and attended the Fourth Annual Conference of States Parties
to the Protocol in December 2002.
In April 2003, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that BiH “neither
participates nor supports participation, and will not participate in joint
military operations with any forces planning, exercising or using antipersonnel
mines.”[7] The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs also stated that BiH will not allow the storage or transit of
antipersonnel mines belonging to another country in or through the territory of
BiH.[8]
Production, Transfer and Use
About half of the former Yugoslavia’s defense
production was located in BiH, with substantial mine production in Gorazde,
Vogosca, and Bugojno. Production of antipersonnel mines ceased by
1995.[9] In 2002, the Landmine
Monitor reported incomplete government information on the status of
antipersonnel mine production facilities in BiH. BHMAC sent a letter of inquiry
to the factories in 2002, but received no
replies.[10] The most recent
Article 7 report states, in answer to the question if previous production
facilities have been converted or decommissioned, “reorganization and
reorientation–complete.”[11]
In January 2003, the Bugojno factory director stated that antipersonnel mine
production capacity was destroyed two years previously. He affirmed that
antivehicle mine production capacity remained, but is not in
use.[12] Also in January 2003,
the Gorazde factory director clarified that the factory works at pre-war
capacity producing caps for rifle and artillery ammunition, but not
antipersonnel mines.[13]
On 30 October 2002, following violations of UN weapons embargoes for Iraq and
Myanmar (Burma), the Republika Srpska (RS) government announced a total ban on
arms trade until state-level control of arms exports is
established.[14] No shipments
involving antipersonnel mines were reported. On 7 March 2003, the Council of
Ministers approved a new law regulating arms-trading companies and imposing
sanctions for violations, and forwarded it to parliament for urgent
adoption.[15]
In October 2002, a weapons cache near Han Pijesak (RS) was found to be
surrounded by antipersonnel mines, which SFOR had to remove before dealing with
the cache.[16] In December 2002,
explosive devices damaged the Donja Mosque in Doboj (RS); it was not apparent if
this incident involved mines.[17]
In March 2003, a booby-trap killed one elderly man and injured another as they
repaired their home in Croat-controlled west
Mostar.[18]
Stockpile and Destruction
Destruction of antipersonnel mine stockpiles was
completed by November 1999, with a total of 460,727 mines
destroyed.[19]
Collection of mines from the population by the Entity Armies, civil
protection teams and the international Stabilization Force’s (SFOR)
Operation Harvest is ongoing. As part of Operation Harvest, SFOR reported
collecting a total of 4,156 mines in
2002.[20] Since 1998, Operation
Harvest has collected nearly 28,000 mines and large quantities of other
munitions. Destruction is carried out by
SFOR.[21] Caches of munitions,
often including antipersonnel and antivehicle mines, continue to be discovered
every month.[22]
The 2003 Article 7 report notes 2,525 antipersonnel mines retained under
Article 3 for permitted purposes, including 293 fuzeless mines; however, this
excludes the Federation armed forces for which there was “No data
available at the time of reporting.” The previous Article 7 report,
submitted in May 2002, recorded 2,405 mines retained, including fuzes and
fuzeless mines. No explanations have been given of how retained mines are used,
or why the number has
increased.[23] SFOR commented in
February 2003 that retained mines are located in military compounds with SFOR
oversight through regular inspection, and that the numbers are not decreasing,
as live mines are not used for training due to the
cost.[24]
Landmine Problem
At the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in
September 2002, the BiH government representative described BiH as “still
the most heavily mine affected country in the region of South-Eastern
Europe,” with approximately 10,000 contaminated sites with 670,000 mines
and 650,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance
(UXO).[25] In May 2003, the
suspected area contaminated by mines and UXO was estimated as 2,089.9 square
kilometers, which is about four percent of the total area of
BiH.[26]
Mine and UXO-suspected area estimated as of April 2003 (square
kilometers)[27]
Entity/District
Total suspected risk area
Priority 1
Priority 2
Priority 3
Federation
1,626.2
138.4
457.9
1,029.8
Republika Srpska
405.1
33.1
114.5
257.5
Brcko
58.6
16.7
17.7
24.5
Total BiH
2,089.9
188.2
590.1
1,311.8
Priority 1: land in regular civilian use, required for refugees or
infrastructure renewal
Priority 2: areas close to priority 1 land, and agricultural & forestry
land
Priority 3: all remaining areas
As of 26 February 2003, BHMAC had recorded 18,280 minefields. However, BHMAC
pointed out that about 40 percent of minefields remain unknown, and new
minefields are discovered each year. The 2003 Article 7 report notes 18,283
minefields containing 257,258 antipersonnel mines and 50,857 antivehicle
mines.[28]
Brcko District is a demilitarized autonomous region of BiH, institutionally
separate from the two Entities. During the 1991-1995 war, it formed the
narrowest point of a supply corridor from Serbia to Republika Srpska, which made
it the scene of heavy fighting and has left it as “one of the most heavily
mine contaminated areas of the entire
BiH.”[29] BHMAC reports
that the mine/UXO suspected areas cover about 12 percent of Brcko, in comparison
with 1.6 percent of Republika Srpska and 6 percent of the
Federation.[30]
Brcko is an area from which there was substantial population displacement
during the war and to which refugees are actively returning, despite the mines
and UXO. Moreover, it is a fertile agricultural belt (the Posavina Corridor) in
a country where arable land is scarce. Reportedly, the main reason for land
abandonment in Brcko is the presence of
mines.[31]
Survey and Marking
A “systematic survey” system began in the Federation in 2001; it
has since reduced the areas suspected of contamination by 50 percent. A
systematic survey was started in Republika Srpska in January 2003, and was
expected to last four months. BHMAC explains that systematic survey establishes
suspected areas, while general survey then establishes a “risk area”
for which a demining task will be issued. Systematic survey is regarded as a
precondition for the Landmine Impact Survey (see
below).[32]
In 2002, general survey covered 73 square kilometers of land, a similar
amount to the previous year. This brings the total area surveyed since 1998 to
over 289 square kilometers (not including areas
re-surveyed).[33]
The nationwide Landmine Impact Survey (LIS), implemented by the Survey Action
Center (SAC) through Handicap International (HI), began in October 2002, and is
expected to be completed in December
2003.[35] Its aim is to provide
quantifiable, standardized data on the impact of landmines and UXO on
communities based on socio-economic indicators. Results will be used to develop
a strategy for minimizing the impact of mines on the communities, and will
enable local authorities to plan and prioritize the use of limited resources.
The budget for the 13-month project is $1.2 million, with funding from the US
State Department and European Commission channeled through the International
Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF). After completion, SAC
will subcontract Cranfield Mine Action and GeoSpatial International to assist in
revision of the national mine action
plan.[36]
SAC reports that as of 27 June 2003, 1,676 communities were surveyed, with
the percentage of High, Medium and Low Impact communities running at 3 percent,
44 percent, and 53 percent,
respectively.[37]
A “Task Assessment and Planning” mission in Sarajevo,
commissioned by SAC and begun in December 2002, identifies high-risk situations
that may require action before completion of the
LIS.[38]
Due to increased refugee flows in 2002, BHMAC initiated the permanent marking
and fencing of risk areas. In 2002, over 2.7 kilometers of fence were erected
in five fencing projects.[39]
A criminal case was brought in August 2002 against the former director of the
Federation Mine Action Center and the former Head of Civil Protection for Novo
Sarajevo municipality, for allegedly failing to ensure adequate minefield
marking which allegedly led to the death of three children in April 2000. The
Board of Donors for Mine Action in BiH stated, “A possible consequence of
this court case is that individuals would no longer be prepared to undertake or
to continue to work in this dangerous and vital work for BiH’s
future.”[40] Similar
concerns were expressed by others, including the UN Under-Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations.[41]
Coordination and Planning of Mine Action
The Council of Ministers approved, in April 2003, a
demining strategy which has the objective of freeing BiH from the mine and UXO
threat by 2010. BHMAC defines the objectives as the survey, clearance and
release to the community of all priority 1 land, and marking of all priority 2
land.[42] The 10-year deadline
stipulated by the Mine Ban Treaty for destruction of all emplaced mines in BiH
is 1 March 2009.[43]
BHMAC planned to conduct general survey of 123.3 square kilometers of land in
2003, including 18.2 square kilometers of risk area reduction and 105.1 square
kilometers of technical tasking. At the start of the year, five organizations
planned to conduct technical survey during 2003 of a total of 1.6 square
kilometers. BHMAC notes that more technical survey is necessary to reduce costs
of humanitarian demining operations and make risk area reduction more
efficient.[44]
In 2003, demining organizations were scheduled to demine 16.3 square
kilometers, including 7.8 square kilometers of mechanical ground preparation.
BHMAC reports that the demining companies have sufficient resources to achieve
these targets, given adequate funding (see next section). Most of the work is
to be carried out in the period March-November
2003.[45]
In its work, BHMAC uses the resources of more than 40 demining organizations
(governmental, nongovernmental and commercial), 102 mine detection dogs and 17
demining machines. A total of 1,929 individuals are qualified deminers, of whom
62 percent (1,204) are currently employed as deminers. Available capacities
could provide mine clearance of up to 30 square kilometers per year, given
sufficient funding. In 2003, the BHMAC planned to employ, on average, 891
deminers per month. There are 86 accredited mine dog detection teams in BiH.
The total number of accredited mine machines is
32.[46]
BHMAC employs 39 qualified surveyors in 19 teams, allowing general survey of
about 100-120 square kilometers per year. BHMAC employs 25 senior quality
control assistants in 13 teams, two inspectors and one chief inspector. Every
inspection team visits two to three work sites per day to perform quality
control. Total capacity is 5,500-6,000 inspections yearly monitoring 65 to 80
work sites.[47]
In October 2002, it was agreed to establish a Mine Detection Dog Center for
Southeast Europe in Konjic, south of Sarajevo. For the first three years the
Center will be financed by the US Department of State and, thereafter,
responsibility will pass to the BiH Council of Ministers. BHMAC’s plan
for demining in 2003 and later years foresees that the Center will make up the
current 35 percent shortfall between present capacity and potential use of mine
detection dogs.[48]
In mid-2001, a Demining Coordination Committee was set up by SFOR, to bring
together engineering chiefs and experts from all BiH armies and demining
organizations, and to integrate their operations. The committee meets every
fifth week.[49]
BiH is in the process of preparing its "Development Strategy for BiH - PRSP
(Poverty Reduction Strategy Policy).” The strategy covers 12 sectors
including demining, but most of the other sectors, such as education, health and
social assistance, are linked with demining
activities.[50]
Mine Action Funding and Assistance
BHMAC has estimated that achieving the strategic
goal of freeing BiH from the effect of mines and UXO by 2010 will require
funding of KM634 million (€324 million, US$308
million).[51]
In 2002, BiH provided national mine action funding of KM10,413,563 ($5.06
million).[52] However, it remained
heavily dependent on international donors. Twelve donors reported contributions
of about $15.8 million to mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002. This
is, however, an incomplete tally.
According to information donors provided to Landmine Monitor and to the UN
Mine Action Investments database, contributions in 2002 to BiH included: Austria
$115,544; Canada C$1,450,587 (US$979,146); European Commission €2.3
million ($2.185 million); Finland $709,000; Germany $1,692,937; Italy
€$1,825,000 ($1.7 million); Japan $53,123; Norway NOK 15,650,000 ($1.96
million); Slovenia $171,168; Sweden SEK 4 million ($412,000), Switzerland
$267,000, and the United States
$5,529,000.[53]
Others who contributed to mine action in BiH in 2002 include the Czech
Republic, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, as well as a
number of non-governmental organizations (see below).
International funding is provided directly to demining organizations working
in BiH, or through the UNDP, or through the International Trust Fund for
Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (which deducts an administration fee but,
in most cases, adds matching funding from the US).
The UNDP allocated total funds of $1,446,979 to BiH in 2002, with donations
from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the
US.[54] The largest share
($1,056,925) supported the mine action center structure; another $19,283
supported the Demining Commission; $370,771 was spent on the UNDP’s own
mine action program which includes equipment, technical advisors, and other UNDP
costs in BiH.[55] The UNDP
two-year project of support to Mine Action Centers expired in June 2003.
UNDP reported that in 2002 financial support for the mine action centers was
adequate, helped by early funding of staff salaries by the BiH
government.[56] But in early 2003
the government asked the Board of Donors to cover MAC salaries for the first
four months. This was agreed, on a loan
basis.[57] A confidential source
told Landmine Monitor that BHMAC salaries were reduced by more than one-half
after May 2002.
In 2002, UNICEF received donations from UNICEF-Germany ($50,000),
UNICEF-Netherlands ($200,000), and UNICEF-Ireland ($200,000) for its MRE and
victim assistance program in
BiH.[58]
In 2002, the ITF channeled $9,917,739 to mine action in BiH, representing 39
percent of its total funds for the
year.[59] Of this, $6,818,650 was
for mine clearance, $1,117,980 for BHMAC, and $661,627 for victim assistance.
The remainder was devoted to the Landmine Impact Survey, MRE, training and
regional activities in
BiH.[60]
Donations to the ITF attract matching US funding. In 2002, donors whose
funds were directed by the ITF to mine action in BiH included Austria, Canada,
Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Commission, France, Germany, Norway,
Korea, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the US (both donations
and matching funds for other donations). The BiH government made its first
contribution (KM2,514,483, or $1,221,508) to mine action center funding in 2002
via a donation to the ITF, which attracted matching US funds. Donating
organizations included Adopt-a-minefield, Community Hadžici,
Elektroprivreda Mostar, Global Care Unlimited and Nova Ljubljanska
Bank.[61]
In 2003, BHMAC’s survey and clearance targets required financing of
KM64 million ($31 million), of which the BiH government and entities planned to
provide KM6.4 million ($3.1 million). By the end of 2002, donors had pledged 35
percent of this amount.[62] In
April 2003, SFOR reported an urgent need to renew Entities’ demining
equipment, at an estimated cost of €1.7 million ($1.6
million).[63]
BiH is in the process of preparing its "Development Strategy for BiH –
PRSP” (Poverty Reduction Strategy Policy). The strategy covers 12 sectors,
including demining. Most of the other sectors, such as education, health and
social assistance, are linked with demining
activities.[64]
Mine Clearance
At the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee meetings
in February 2003, BiH announced that 6,001,392 square meters of land was cleared
of mines in 2002.[65] This is an
increase from the 2001 total of 5,545,005 square meters. However, it is only
about 41 percent of the planned clearance, and about half of BiH’s stated
clearance capacity given sufficient funding. The BHMAC database records that
1,532 antipersonnel mines and 251 antivehicle mines were found (compared to
3,113 mines in 2001), and 1,575 items of UXO (2,675 in
2001).[66]
The types of land cleared in BiH changed in 2002. A greater proportion of
the land cleared was categorized as “repatriation” (50 percent, up
from 2 percent in 2001), and there was a new category of
“infrastructure” (15 percent). There was less concentration on
housing (13 percent, down from 51 percent), agriculture (7 percent, down from 15
percent), and electric power (4 percent, down from 7
percent).[67] Quality assurance
in 2002 involved 3,746 inspections on 340 clearance
sites.[68]
In the Federation entity, 4,164,052 square meters were cleared (45 percent of
planned clearance). In Republika Srpska 846,408 square meters were cleared (21
percent of the plan), and in Brcko District 990,932 square were cleared (76
percent of the plan). Brcko does not have Entity armed forces to provide
demining capacity, but has its own Civil Protection demining team, trained by
the German NGO HELP, and its own demining
coordinator.[69]
NGOs and Commercial Demining Companies
In 2002, NGOs cleared 2,162,787 square meters of land, including 120
buildings. They found and destroyed 309 antipersonnel mines and 489 items of
UXO.[70] Seven ITF-funded
NGOs—APM (Akcija Protiv Mina), Pro Vita, Stop Mines, BH Demining, UG ZOM,
PROMAK and NPA—cleared 1,134,384 square meters of the
total.[71]
Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) worked in Dobrinja and at four sites within
Sarajevo, with manual, dog and mechanical resources, clearing 408,485 square
meters and 13 houses, during which 83 antipersonnel mines and 146 UXO were
found. In related explosive ordnance disposal, 6,717 mines and UXO were
destroyed.[72]
The Italian NGO Intersos continued its operations in Sarajevo, clearing
18,092 square meters; 25 mines and 65 items of UXO were found. This allowed
several businesses to restart, facilitating the employment of hundreds of local
workers. The cost, €409,769 ($389,281) was co-financed by the Italian
government and Intersos.[73]
Commercial companies cleared 1,817,736 square meters including 94 buildings,
finding 766 antipersonnel mines, 109 antivehicle mines, and 372 items of
UXO.[74]
Commercial companies were involved in ITF-funded clearance near the border of
Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During 2002, four organizations surveyed
and cleared 412,233 square meters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, uncovering more
than 369 mines and 62 items of
UXO.[75]
Entity Armies and Civil Protection
Demining teams of the Entity armies in 2002 cleared 1,341,707 square meters
(including five buildings) of 210 antipersonnel mines, 35 antivehicle mines, and
247 items of UXO. According to BHMAC the area was not larger due to a decrease
in army numbers and non-delivery of expected donations (mine detection dogs and
soil preparation machines).[76]
Entity Civil Protection demining teams cleared 679,162 square meters and 81
buildings, destroying 247 antipersonnel mines, 107 antivehicle mines and 467
UXO.[77] The European Commission
previously contracted two commercial companies and the German NGO HELP to train
and equip Entity Civilian Protection demining teams, under various programs from
1996 to February 2003. The latest phase of EC support, November 2002-October
2003, focuses on mine/UXO clearance related to the return of
refugees.[78]
The Federation entity has 13 Civil Protection demining teams, and the RS has
6 teams plus one mechanical
team.[79]
Mine Risk Education
In accordance with the Demining Law approved in
February 2002, BHMAC reports that it will develop a national policy on mine risk
education (MRE) for the period 2003-2010, with the help of UNICEF and in
cooperation with the other
agencies.[80] BHMAC is now
responsible for the development of MRE standards and training programs, the
accreditation of all organizations conducting MRE, and provision of information
to other members of the international
community.[81]
In October 2002, a coordination system for MRE was established which
comprises a policy board, an implementation committee, and ad hoc technical
working groups. BHMAC’s draft MRE plan for 2003 proposes development of
technical guidelines based on UNICEF international guidelines, to be completed
in 2003.[82]
In 2002, mine risk education in BiH was carried out by the entity/cantonal
ministries of education, entity Civil Protection and Red Cross organizations,
SFOR, BHMAC and its regional offices, the ICRC, UNDP, UNICEF, APM and Handicap
International, Genesis, and PRONI. BHMAC has a coordinating role and is
responsible for training and standards.
In September 2002, UNICEF recruited a specialized MRE Advisor who conducted
an assessment of needs and resources available. Based on the findings, UNICEF
and BHMAC developed a consolidated MRE plan. A three-year program started in
2002, targeting 600,000 children aged five to
eight.[83]
Ministries of Education in the Federation and in Republika Srpska conducted
MRE as part of regular education programs. MRE is part of the curriculum for
grades 1, 3, 4, and 7 of primary school. For other grades of primary school,
MRE is provided through extra-curricular activities. In 2002, 541,550 pupils
received MRE.[84]
The international Stabilization Force in BiH contracts a traveling theatre to
stage a play with MRE messages in schools across the country, and also supports
others carrying out MRE.[85]
In 2002, in addition to its coordinating role, BHMAC also provided MRE
directly through television and radio broadcasts, distribution of materials, and
presentations by BHMAC staff. A total of 6,724 people received MRE directly from
BHMAC. Technical support was provided by
UNDP.[86]
The mine awareness program developed by ICRC and the Red Cross network in BiH
includes national and local media campaigns, a community-based program, and
support to institutions, such as the Ministry of Education.
The community-based MRE program is implemented through a country-wide network
of trained BiH Red Cross mine awareness instructors working at grass roots level
on projects targeting high-risk groups of local residents (such as farmers,
hunters, fishermen and woodcutters), returnees, internally displaced persons
(IDPs) and children. Between January and December 2002, nearly 7,000
presentations or discussions, involving all 96 instructors, were organized for
some 99,470 participants throughout the country. Other activities supported by
the ICRC and the Red Cross Society of BiH led to thousands of presentations or
discussions involving 35,960 residents, 52,560 children, and 10,950
returnees/IDPs.
In December 2002, the RS Ministry of Education completed an MRE curriculum
for secondary schools. This follows ICRC/Red Cross collaboration in 2001 with
the Federation Ministry of Education to produce extra-curricular activities for
teachers to use with students. Lastavica, a bimonthly mine awareness
newsletter, continues to circulate. Also in December 2002, the Ministries of
Education in both BiH entities and the Red Cross network in BiH celebrated
“Mine Awareness Week.” Increased media campaigns were conducted
during this time as well as the traditional MRE quiz competition for
schoolchildren, involving 55,000 children.
In 2002, APM (Akcija Protiv Mina) and Handicap International (HI)
collaborated on APM’s project to train primary school teachers on both
Bosnian and Croat sides of the Herzeg-Neretva (Mostar) Canton, reaching 95
percent of the teachers by the time of the program’s conclusion in October
2002.[87]
PRONI focused its work on the provision of MRE to returnees, women, youth
centers, hunters, fishermen and disabled people. In 2002, PRONI provided MRE to
18,014 people.[88]
In 2002, Genesis provided MRE throughout RS, primarily in schools. Methods
used included interactive puppet shows and educational workshops, discussions
and distribution of MRE pamphlets. In 2002, 14,693 people received MRE,
including 14,162 children and 531
adults.[89]
UNDP’s mass media campaign continued in 2002, based on the distribution
in schools of T-shirts, badges, notebooks, posters and leaflets by BHMAC and MRE
NGOs. The campaign was funded by a 1998 donation of the Ted Turner
Foundation.[90]
Landmine/UXO Casualties
In 2002, landmine/UXO incidents killed 26 civilians
and injured 46 others, including 19 children, representing a decrease from the
87 new casualties reported in 2001. Males accounted for 90 percent of reported
casualties. Mines were the cause of 40 casualties, 28 were caused by UXO, two
by improvised explosive devices and the cause of two casualties was unknown.
Landmines and UXO continued to cause casualties in 2003, with 13 civilians
killed and 14 injured up to 9 May
2003.[91] In an incident
on 10 March 2003, five members of one family were killed in northern Bosnia
after the son stepped on a landmine while clearing a field. The family had
recently returned to their village after fleeing during the 1992-1995
war.[92]
The ICRC, working at the community level throughout the country, continues to
collect data and provide up-to-date information on landmine and UXO incidents.
The population is, in many cases, aware of the existence of mines and the danger
they pose, but all do not practice safe behavior mainly due to the economic
necessity of cultivating the land, although other factors also come into play.
As of 9 may 2003, the ICRC database contained information on 4,798
landmine/UXO casualties since 1992, of which 927 were killed and 3,871
injured.[93] Between 1996
and 2002 the mine incident rate fell from an average of 52 casualties per month
to six casualties per month. An analysis of the type of injury sustained
indicates that from 1992 to the end of 2002, there were 2,274 amputations, 411
eye injuries, and 2,691 cases of fragmentation wounds, with some individuals
sustaining multiple types of
injury.[94]
Survivor Assistance
The governments of FBiH and RS, the international
community, and local NGOs continue to work towards alleviating the medical and
socio-economic obstacles faced by landmine survivors; nevertheless, in 2002 no
overall coordination mechanism existed. According to the UNDP, BiH continues to
need international assistance and cooperation in health
care.[95]
In 2003, BHMAC plans to establish a mine victim assistance coordination
group, which will include the relevant government ministries from FBiH and RS,
NGOs working with mine survivors, and international organizations including the
ICRC and UNICEF. BHMAC plans to collect information and analyze the situation
regarding mine survivors, and develop a plan of action by
mid-2003.[96]
BiH has four university clinical centers, a network of general hospitals, and
a public health center in every municipality. Community-based rehabilitation
centers provide physical and psychological rehabilitation, while some hospitals
and public health centers also provide physical therapy. State-run social
welfare centers are located in each municipality and can assist landmine
survivors at the local level.[97]
In FBiH, there are 38 CBR centers for physical rehabilitation and 38 for
psychosocial rehabilitation, funded through the FBiH Medical
Fund.[98] Victims of the war,
including mine survivors, are treated free of charge.
In late August 2002, a joint Canadian/Japanese project commenced in RS, which
will refurbish, supply with equipment, and train the staff of 16 CBR centers,
and build and equip one new center. CIDA will contribute Can$1.5 million
($955,000) to the project, while the JICA contribution will be approximately
US$8 million. Reconstruction of the CBR centers commenced in January 2003 and
is due for completion by December
2004.[99] On completion of the
project, there will be 22 CBR centers established in
RS.[100]
In BiH, there are eight prosthetic centers: six in FBiH and two in
RS;[101] however, the standards
of facilities and quality of care is said to vary dramatically across BiH. The
average distance between amputees and a limb-fitting center is 100-150
kilometers.[102] The high cost of
prostheses and other assistive devices, reportedly limits the government’s
ability to meet the needs of mine survivors and other
amputees.[103]
The ITF provided US$661,627 for mine victim assistance in BiH in 2002. This
represents about 6.6 percent of the total ITF funding for BiH in 2002. Funding
was provided to Landmine Survivors Network, the International Children's
Institute, the Slovenian Institute for Rehabilitation, the BiH Red Cross, and
Elegant Designs and Solutions for the development of low-cost high quality
prostheses.[104] Donors included
Austria, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, and the US.[105] During the year, 83 mine
survivors from BiH were treated at the Slovenian Institute for Rehabilitation.
In addition, one physician and two physiotherapists from BiH successfully
completed their training and another four are currently enrolled in the
prosthetics and orthotics technology course at the College of Health Studies at
the University of Ljubljana.[106]
At least five international organizations provide assistance specifically to
mine survivors in BiH: the ICRC, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Jesuit
Refugee Service (JRS), Landmine Survivors Network (LSN) and Queen’s
University ICACBR.
The ICRC, in partnership with the national Red Cross network in BiH, collects
data on mine casualties and has worked with local communities to improve the
standard of primary health
care.[107]
In 2002, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) conducted programs for
persons with disabilities, including mine survivors, in Konjic, Prozor, Banja
Luka, Tuzla, and Sarajevo. In Konjic and Prozor, the IRC works with disability
associations providing advice and training on agricultural production, and
directly assisted 18 disabled persons, including four landmine survivors. In
Banja Luka, Tuzla and Sarajevo, the IRC program focused on raising awareness of
issues relating to disability by conducting a mass media campaign, organizing
seminars, and encouraging mine survivors to participate in sports events. The
IRC also organized two business management skills workshops for 18 mine
survivors. Six other skills retraining courses were organized for 24 mine
survivors, who, with assistance from LSN, are now self-employed. The program in
Banja Luka closed in September 2002 due to lack of
funding.[108]
The JRS in BiH runs an assistance program for children injured during and
after the war, and another program for elderly mine survivors. Based in
Sarajevo, the program for children provides medical assistance, rehabilitation,
and material, psychosocial and legal support. In 2002, 186 children, 75 of whom
were mine survivors, benefited from the program. The program for elderly mine
survivors, covering the Sarajevo canton, Middle Bosnia, Una Sana and Banja Luka
region, assisted 86 people in 2002, including 28 mine survivors, providing
medicines, prostheses, and rehabilitation treatments. RENOVABIS (Germany),
CORDAID and JRS funded the
programs.[109]
In 2002, LSN continued its work in BiH with 12 community-based outreach
workers based in twelve heavily mine-affected regions of the country: Sarajevo,
Tuzla, Doboj, Doboj East, Banja Luka, Mostar, Bugojno, Trebinje, Bijeljina,
Velika Kladusa, and Bihac, and Gorazde (started January 2003). The outreach
workers, themselves amputees, visit mine survivors, and other disabled persons,
assess their needs, offer psychological and social support, and educate families
about the effects of limb loss. Through December 2002, LSN had interviewed
1,203 survivors.[110] LSN links
individual survivors and their families to existing services and tracks progress
toward recovery and reintegration. LSN also provides direct material support to
survivors through covering the cost of prostheses, vocational training, house
repairs or emergency food aid, if necessary. In 2002, 242 people received
direct assistance, of which about 90 percent were mine
survivors.[111]
Queen’s University ICACBR’s project, which ended in October 2002,
supported 12 peer counseling groups in BiH linked to existing CBR centers. The
project focused on training group leaders and local health professionals on
issues ranging from personal counseling and rehabilitation support services,
community and family interactions, and self-employment, to the development of
sustainable NGO initiatives and economic reintegration of landmine survivors,
and other persons with disabilities, into society. In 2002, the program, funded
by CIDA, benefited around 1,000 individuals, including some 300 mine
survivors.[112]
In 2001/2002, the Rotary Club of Sarajevo sponsored a project, with the
Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Rottaler-Baderdreieck, Germany, to
provide prostheses and trauma therapy to child landmine survivors. Over 15
months, the $60,900 project provided 23 children with artificial limbs, and 17
others with rehabilitation services. An additional 109 children were identified,
medically assessed, and recommended for
assistance.[113]
The NGO, Hope 87, in Sarajevo provides medical treatment, psycho-social
support and vocational training in computer skills and languages for about 200
mine survivors and other victims of the war. In 2002, 15 mine survivors also
received prostheses. The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is funding the
program.[114]
Sport was recognized after the war in BiH as a means of assisting people with
disabilities in their physical and psychological
rehabilitation.[115] In FBiH,
there are 18 sitting volleyball clubs, seven men’s wheelchair basketball
clubs and one women’s club. FBiH also has three athletic clubs for the
disabled and several small football
clubs.[116] The Association for
Sport and Recreation of Invalids in BiH provides facilities in Sarajevo, Tuzla,
Gorazde, Zenica, Una Sana, and Middle Bosnia. Around 10,000 people benefit from
the programs, including many mine
survivors.[117] In RS, there are
around 20 sports associations and clubs for people with disabilities. In 2002,
the RS government allocated KM75,000 (approx. US$36,000) to sports for the
disabled; an allocation of KM70,000 (approx. US$41,000) is planned for 2003.
The RS Secretariat for Sport and Youth has a focal person to promote the issue
of sports for people with
disabilities.[118]
No state-run programs for vocational training have been identified; such
programs are implemented through NGOs working with persons with disabilities.
High unemployment in BiH has exacerbated the problem of finding employment for
mine survivors. It is acknowledged that more attention is needed in the area of
vocational training.[119] LSN
statistics reveal that 31 percent of mine survivors regard the lack of
employment opportunities and economic reintegration as their main
concern.[120]
Disability Policy and Practice
There is one State law and two Entity laws that
regulate the rights of people with disabilities. In FBiH, once a law has been
adopted at Entity level the cantons must then adopt their own laws; therefore
the situation varies from canton to canton. In RS, which does not have the
cantonal system, there reportedly are delays in the payment of disability
pensions.[121]
Civilian mine survivors must pay for their own health care or insurance, and
receive much lower, and more irregular, compensation for their injuries than
military survivors. In RS, pensions for civilian victims of war, including mine
survivors, range from KM78-233 (approx. $38-113) per
month.[122] In FBiH, pensions
range from KM30-300 (approx. US$15-145) per
month.[123] In some cases,
civilians must pay a part of their medical costs and a portion of the costs of
their prosthesis, which can be between KM3,000 and KM5,000 (approx.
$1,450-$2,430).[124] In RS, the
Ministry of Labor and War Veterans provides social support to victims of the
war; including both military and civilian mine survivors, though there are
plans, due to budget constraints, to amend the laws to reduce the benefits
available. In 2003, the budget for military and civilian victims of the war is
KM112 million (approx. US$54 million). Support is provided to 64,556
individuals and families of those killed, including mine
victims.[125]
In FBiH, through the Ministry of War Veterans, a military mine survivor has
the right of a free prosthesis every third year, free health care and insurance,
free treatment in special rehabilitation centers, and compensation for his
disability. However, the government has difficulty balancing needs with
available resources. In 2003, the budget for the FBiH Ministry of War Veterans
is KM275 million (approx. $134 million), or 22 percent of the total Federation
budget. Support is provided to 97,976 individuals and families of soldiers
killed, including mine
victims.[126]
In July 2002, the RS Ministry of Health adopted a new public health strategy
with an emphasis on reintegration of persons with disabilities, and physical
rehabilitation at the community
level.[127]
In 2002, BiH commenced a series of roundtable consultations on an initiative
called “Development Strategy for BiH: PRSP (poverty reduction strategy
policy) and Social Protection of People with Disabilities.” A total of
100 meetings were convened involving about 5,000 participants, including
representatives from FBiH and RS government ministries, disability groups, and
NGOs. The strategy will incorporate 12 sectors including health, social
assistance, and mine action. A draft policy has been developed and a final
document was expected to be available for discussion by June
2003.[128] The draft policy
includes a Plan of Action that addresses issues such as the establishment of a
unique law on the protection of people with disabilities without question on the
cause of disability, modification of the legal regulations for health
protection, and the establishment of a database of users of social protection.
[1] BiH is made up of two Entities and an
autonomous district: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FbiH), Republika
Srpska (RS), and Brcko District. [2]
Interview with Mustafa Alikadic, Darko Vidovic, and Dragica Stankovic, members
of the Demining Commission, Sarajevo, 30 January 2003.
[3] Email from Darko Vidovic, Demining
Commission, 23 May 2003. For previous claims by a member of the BiH Mine Action
Center regarding the existing criminal law, see Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p.
113. [4] Statement by Amira Arifovic,
Counselor, Division for Peace and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fourth
Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 16-20 September
2002. [5] Statement by Amira Arifovic,
Counselor, Division for Peace and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 5 February 3003. [6]
Article 7 Report submitted in April 2003 for calendar year 2002. Previous
Article 7 reports were submitted on: 20 May 2002 (for the period January 1996-30
April 2002), 1 September 2001 (for the period January 1996-1 September 2001) and
1 February 2000 (for the period 8 March 1999-1 February
2000). [7] Fax to Landmine Monitor from
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 29 April
2003. [8]
Ibid. [9] Interview with Mustafa Alikadic,
Darko Vidovic, and Dragica Stankovic, 30 January
2003. [10] Telephone interview with Zoran
Grujic, Assistant Information Director, BHMAC, 20 March
2003. [11] Article 7 Report, Form E, April
2003. [12] Telephone interview with
Gurbeta Muhamed, Director, Binas, Bugojno, 16 January
2003. [13] Telephone interview with Jusuf
Hubjer, Director, Unis Ginex, Goradze, 16 January 2003. Previously, it was
reported that antipersonnel mine production facilities still existed. See
Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 114. [14]
“Bosnia and Herzegovina: All Arms Exports Banned,” Seeurope.net, 30
October 2002, at www.seeurope.net;
“Bosnia Bans All Arms Export,” Kathimerini, 30 October 2002; and
“BiH Government Endorses New Bill on Arms Trade,” BalkanTimes, 9
December 2002, at
www.balkantimes.com. [15]
Telephone interview with Amira Arifovic, Counselor, Division for Peace and
Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sarajevo, 20 March
2003. [16] “SFOR Discovers Another
Weapons Cache in Republika Srpska,” BalkanTimes, 7 November 2002,
www.balkantimes.com. [17]
Public Affairs, UN Mission in BiH, “Daily Media Monitoring Summary,”
6 and 7-9 December 2002. [18] UN High
Commissioner for Refugees, “UNHCR Briefing Notes: Bosnia and
Herzegovina,” 14 March 2003. [19]
See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp.
590-591. [20] Interview with Richard
Dickinson, Chief Countermines/EOD, SFOR, Sarajevo, 11 February
2003. [21] Transcript of NATO/SFOR Press
Briefing, 12 December 2002, at
www.nato.int. [22] Landmine Monitor has on
record reported discoveries of caches of mines in June, October (two incidents)
and November 2002, as well as January, February, March, and April
2003. [23] Article 7 Report, Form G, April
2003; Article 7 Report, Form G, 20 May
2002. [24] Interview with Richard
Dickinson, SFOR, Sarajevo, 11 February
2003. [25] Statement by Amira Arifovic,
Fourth Meeting of States Parties, 16-20 September 2002; see also, Landmine
Monitor Report 2002, p. 116. [26]
Presentation by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance,
Mine Risk Education, and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 May 2003; BHMAC,
“Mine Action Plan for the Year 2003,” 15 April 2003 (draft report
approved by Council of Ministers), p.
4. [27] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002,” 15 April 2003 (draft report
approved by Council of Ministers), p.
4. [28] Article 7 Report, Form C, April
2003. [29] Food and Agriculture
Organization and UNDP, “Land Survey of the Former PD Posavina State Farm
Project: Report of Findings and Recommendations,” Section 2.2.6, January
2002. [30] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
4. [31] FAO and UNDP, “Land Survey
of the Former PD Posavina State Farm Project: Report of Findings and
Recommendations,” Section 2.2.6, January 2002; International Committee of
the Red Cross, “The Silent Menace: Landmines in Bosnia and
Herzegovina,” February 1998. [32]
BHMAC, “Project presentation: Systematic Survey on Mine Impact in Fed
BiH,” provided on 28 February 2003; interview with Darvin Lisica, Deputy
Director, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 28 February
2003. [33] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p. 10; interview with Darvin Lisica,
Deputy Director, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 28 February
2003. [34] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
10. [35] Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW)
from Alice Jardin, Handicap International, Lyon, 24 July
2003. [36] Interview with Emmanuel
Sauvage, Director, Handicap International, Sarajevo, 9 January 2003;
“Bosnia and Herzegovina Landmine Impact Survey,” program brochure,
pp. 15, 19. [37] Survey Action Center,
Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 6, June 2003. [38]
Email from Sara Sekkenes, Mine Policy Advisor, Norwegian People’s Aid, 10
March 2003. [39] BHMAC, “Report on
Mine Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
10. [40] Statement by the Board of Donors
for Mine Action in BiH, January 2003 (day not stated), interview with Robert
Strazisar, Mine Action Adviser, OHR, Sarajevo, 7 February
2003. [41] Letter to Paddy Ashdown, High
Representative, from Jean Marie Guehenno, Under Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations, 3 December
2002. [42] BHMAC, “Demining Strategy
for Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Year of 2010,” 15 April 2003, pp.
6-9. [43] Article 5 allows States Parties
to request an extension of the deadline for a period not exceeding 10
years. [44] BHMAC, “Mine Action Plan
for the year 2003,” 15 April 2003, p.
12. [45]
Ibid. [46] Ibid, pp.
5-8. [47] Ibid, p.
7. [48] “Mine Detection Dog Center
for the Region of South-Eastern Europe,
www.see-demining.org; interview with
Nermin Hadzimujagic, Deputy Director, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 13 February 2003; BHMAC,
”Mine Action Plan for 2003,” 15 April 2003, p.
8. [49] Interview with Richard Dickinson,
SFOR, Sarajevo, 11 February 2003. [50]
Interview with Haris Mesinovic, Consultant, Office of the BiH Coordinator for
PRSP, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Sarajevo, 4 April
2003. [51] BHMAC, “Demining Strategy
for 2010,” 15 April 2003, p. 12. The rate between the KM and the Euro was
set at 1.95583, as the KM was fixed at parity with the German Mark. This rate is
used throughout this report. Exchange rate €1 = US$0.95 used throughout
this report. Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6
January 2003. [52] BHMAC, “Report on
Mine Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p. 6. In February 2003, an official
provided a much lower figure for the government’s contribution in 2002:
KM2.59 million ($1.26 million). Statement by Amira Arifovic, Standing Committee
on Mine Clearance, 5 February 3003. [53]
See individual country studies in this Landmine Monitor Report. The UN Mine
Action Investments database,
www.mineaction.org [54] BHMAC,
“Report on Mine Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p. 6. This includes
funds allocated by donors in 2001. [55]
Emails from Seid Turkovic, Manager, Institutional Capacity Building Portfolio,
UNDP, 22 and 24 April 2003. [56] Ibid., 14
January 2003. [57] Interview with Seid
Turkovic, Manager, Institutional Capacity Building Portfolio, UNDP, Sarajevo, 18
March 2003. [58] Email from Nathalie
Prevost, Mine Risk Education Adviser, UNICEF BiH, 7 February
2003. [59] ITF, “Annual Report
2002,” pp. 19, 33; emails from Eva Veble, ITF, 3 March and 30 April
2003. [60]
Ibid. [61] ITF, “Annual Report
2002,” pp. 19, 33; email from Eva Veble, ITF, 9 May 2003; see also
Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 119. [62]
BHMAC, “Demining Strategy for 2010,” 15 April 2003, p. 12; BHMAC,
“Report on Mine Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, pp.
8-9. [63] Interview with Richard
Dickinson, SFOR, Sarajevo, 11 February 2003; email from Richard Dickinson, 22
April 2003. [64] Interview with Haris
Mesinovic, Consultant, Office of the BiH Coordinator for PRSP, Ministry of
Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Sarajevo, 4 April
2003. [65] Statement by Amira Arifovic,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, 5 February
3003. [66] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
7. [67] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
25. [68] Ibid, p.
9. [69] Ibid, p. 7. Brcko district was
not previously separated out from clearance and survey data reported for the two
Entities. [70] BHMAC, “Report on
Mine Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
8. [71] ITF, “Annual Report
2002,” p. 33; email from Eva Veble, Head of International Relations, ITF,
3 March 2003. [72] Email from Damir
Atikovic, Assistant Program Manager, NPA, Sarajevo, 25 April 2003; information
provided by NPA (Oslo), 13 May 2003. [73]
Emails from Valentina Crini, MAU Assistant, Intersos, 23 January and 11 February
2003. [74] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
8. [75] Email from Eva Veble, Head of
International Relations, ITF, 8 May 2003; ITF, “Annual Report 2001,”
p. 11. [76] BHMAC, “Report on Mine
Action in 2002,” 15 April 2003, p.
8. [77] Ibid, p.
8. [78] Letter from Michael B. Humphreys,
Ambassador, Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Sarajevo, March 2003 (no day stated); “Mine Clearance,” Kathimerini
(Greek daily newspaper, English internet edition), 28 November
2002. [79] Interview with Nihad Hadzic,
translator, Federation Civil Protection, Sarajevo, 4 March 2003; email from
Branko Grabez, Deputy Director for Demining, RS Civil Protection, 22 January
2003. [80] BHMAC, “Mine Action Plan
for the year 2003,” 15 April 2003, p.
15. [81]
Ibid. [82] BHMAC, “Draft MRE Plan
for 2003,” pp. 5-8, provided by Darvin Lisica, Deputy Director, BHMAC,
Sarajevo, 28 February 2003. [83] Email
from Nathalie Prevost, Mine Risk Education Adviser, UNICEF BiH, 7 February 2003;
UNICEF, “Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Things that Go Bang! (e-bulletin),
25 November 2002. [84] Email from
Miroslava Vidosavljevic, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 17 March
2003. [85] Email from Richard Dickinson,
SFOR, Sarajevo, 19 May 2003. [86] Email
from Miroslava Vidosavljevic, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 17 March
2003. [87] Email from Melissa Sabatier,
Administrator, HI, Sarajevo, 16 January
2003. [88] Email from Miroslava
Vidosavljevic, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 17 March
2003. [89]
Ibid. [90]
Ibid. [91] “Mine Victim Statistics:
Bosnia and Herzegovina,” fax from Michele Blatti, Cooperation Delegate,
ICRC, Sarajevo, 9 May 2003. [92]
“Land mine kills five members of a Bosnian family,” Associated
Press, 10 March 2003. [93] Fax from
Michele Blatti, ICRC, Sarajevo, 9 May 2003; and email from Mustafa Sarajlic,
Mine Awareness Assistant, ICRC Sarajevo, 9 May
2003. [94] “Mine Victims Statistics:
Bosnia and Herzegovina,” email from Michele Blatti, Cooperation Delegate,
ICRC, Sarajevo, 27 February 2003. [95]
UNDP, “Bosnia and Herzegovina: Human Development Report 2002,”
Sarajevo, p. 60. [96] BHMAC, “Mine
Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina – draft,” p. 15 (document
provided by Dusan Gavran, Director, BHMAC, Sarajevo, 10 January 2003); BHMAC,
“Draft MRE Plan for 2003,” p.
7. [97] For more details see Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, pp. 603-604. [98]
Letter from Dr. Goran Cerkez, FBiH Minister of Health, 17 April
2003. [99] Email from Michèle
Monette, Information Officer, Communications Branch, Canadian International
Development Agency, 13 January 2003. [100]
Letter from Dr. Martin Kvaternik, RS Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,
Banja Luka, 20 February 2003. [101]
“Bosnia and Herzegovina: mine victims assistance,” Dr. Goran Cerkez,
FBiH Minister of Health, presentation at the ITF Workshop on Assistance to
Landmine Survivors and Victims in South-Eastern Europe: Defining Strategies for
Success, Ig, Slovenia, 1 July 2002. [102]
“Final Report on the MOPS Research Phase,” EdaS, 9 October 2001, p.
8. [103] Letter from Dr. Goran Cerkez,
Minister of Health, FbiH, 17 April
2003. [104] Email to Landmine Monitor
(HIB) from Sabina Beber, International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims
Assistance, 18 June 2003. [105] ITF,
“Annual Report 2002,” p.
33. [106]
Ibid. [107] Interview with from Michele
Blatti, Cooperation Delegate, and Mustafa Sarajlic, Mine Awareness Assistant,
ICRC, Sarajevo, 26 March, 2003. [108]
Interview with Dragan Tatic, Country Director, IRC, Sarajevo, 27 March 2003;
Response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire from IRC, March
2003. [109] Interview with Danijel Koraca,
Program Manager, Jesuit Refugee Service, Sarajevo, 26 March 2003; Response to
Landmine Monitor questionnaire from JRS, 30 January 2003; JRS, “Annual
Report for Mine Victims Assistance Program 2002,” 23 December
2002. [110] Email from Plamenko Priganica,
Director, Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 9 January
2003. [111] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire from Plamenko Priganica, Director, LSN BiH, 9 January
2003. [112] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire from Djenana Jalovcic, Senior Program and Administrative Officer,
International Center for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation, 8
January 2003. [113] “Bosnian
landmine victims receive prostheses and therapy,” 18 December 2002,
available at www.reliefweb.int (accessed
15 January 2003). [114] Interview with
Fikret Karkin, Director, Hope 87, Sarajevo, 2 June 2003; Response to Landmine
Monitor questionnaire from Hope 87, 8 July
2003. [115] Council of Europe, Final
Report on the Action Plan: “Rehabilitation through sport,”
Strasbourg, 17 January 2001, p. 5. [116]
Email from Plamenko Priganica, Director, Landmine Survivors Network in BiH, 25
January 2002. [117] Interview with Husein
Odobasic, President, Association for Sport and Recreation of Invalids in BiH,
Sarajevo, 27 March 2003. [118] Letter from
Novak Grbic, Focal Point for Sports for the Disabled, RS Secretariat for Sport
and Youth, Banja Luka, 11 March
2003. [119] Interview with Halil Plimac,
Deputy Minister, FBiH Ministry of War Veterans, Sarajevo, 2 April
2003. [120] Interview with Plamenko
Priganica, Director, LSN BiH, Tuzla, 3 April
2003. [121] For details see Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p. 604; Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p.
128. [122] Interview with Radomir Graonic,
Assistant to RS Minister of Labor and War Veterans, Banja Luka, 1 April
2003. [123] Interview with Mustafa
Karabasic, President, Federal Union of Civilian Victims, Sarajevo, 27 March
2003. [124] See Landmine Monitor Report
2002, p. 128. [125] Interview with Radomir
Graonic, Assistant to RS Minister of Labour and War Veterans, 1 April
2003. [126] Interview with Halil Plimac,
FBiH Ministry of War Veterans, 2 April
2003. [127] Interview with Dr. Milan
Latinovic, Assistant to RS Minister of Health, Banja Luka, 1 April
2003. [128] Interview with Haris
Mesinovic, Consultant, Office of the BiH Coordinator for PRSP, Ministry of
Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Sarajevo, 4 April 2003.
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