22 March 2002

U.S. Congress OKs Another $14 Million for Demining in Balkans

The U.S. Congress has approved $14 million to continue support for demining efforts in the Balkans under the auspices of the Slovenian International Trust Fund (ITF). These funds will match some $12.5 million in contributions and pledges from donor governments in Europe and Korea, as well as some private donors.

Donald F. Patierno, director of the Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs in the Department of State, announced the U.S. contribution at a meeting of the Fund's Board of Advisors March 22 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

He outlined international support for demining efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Albania. Some U.S. funding is unilateral while in most cases it matches contributions from other countries.

Patierno also explained that, while the U.S. priority for funding the ITF remains the Balkan states, "we do see the ITF as a viable means to direct U.S. mine action support to other mine-affected areas, particularly in Europe, when the ITF offers the best or most expedient opportunity for doing so.

"We do not, however, mean to impose that view on others, who have humanitarian objectives that may differ slightly from our own."

Following is the text of Patierno's remarks:

Remarks to the Eighth Meeting of the Board of Advisors to the Slovenian International Trust Fund

Ljubljana, Slovenia
March 22, 2002

Mr. Chairman, fellow Members of the Board of Advisors:

I am pleased to report to the Board that the United States Congress has approved another $14 million to continue support to the International Trust Fund (ITF).

I'm even more pleased to learn that approximately $12.5 million from other donors has been deposited or pledged. I believe these contributions clearly illustrate the confidence the donor community has in the ITF.

With this new infusion of new U.S. funds, we will be matching contributions and pledges from a number of donors supporting activities in nearly all the mine-affected countries in Southeast Europe.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, we will be matching contributions from Norway, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Korea, the European Union, and some private donors. The total value of the U.S. match for these contributions and pledges will result in over $4.2 million in U.S. support for demining and victims' assistance initiatives in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Coupled with funds carried over from last year, and with funds set aside in a separate account for support of landmine impact surveys, total U.S. support for mine action in Bosnia-Herzegovina this year will approximate $5.5 million.

In Croatia, we will see an expansion of U.S.-supported activities, due largely in part to the generosity of the Government of Croatia itself, which has deposited nearly $3.2 million to the ITF, all of which we eagerly will match. Other donors to Croatia include Norway and the European Union and the U.S. will, of course, match these deposits as well. All told, U.S. support to mine action in Croatia will exceed $5.8 million.

We are pleased that the ITF is venturing into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with projects both in Serbia and in Montenegro. The generosity of Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Norway, and the European Union will be matched by a collective U.S. contribution of over $950,000.

In Albania, the U.S. will use unilateral funds to join with the Swiss in supporting a mine clearance effort. And in Macedonia, again with unilateral, not matching funds, the U.S. will provide over $450,000 for mine and UXO (unexploded ordnance)clearance.

We will continue to support region-wide efforts, aimed mostly at management training and rehabilitation efforts. Our financial support, which will total over $800,000, to these region-wide initiatives is directly attributable to contributions from Norway, Slovenia, and the European Union.

If these remarks sound like a litany of generosity on the part of donors to the ITF, that is exactly the emphasis I wanted to convey.

I also wanted to let you know that there is more. Contributions and pledges to the ITF that will be matched as I've outlined total just over $12 million. I would encourage those of you in a position to do so to join the litany of donors that, like the United States, believe the ITF is the best means to help achieve impact-free status for the mine-affected nations of Southeast Europe.

Mr. Chairman, let me add that the United States is aware of the concerns some have regarding expansion of the ITF into other areas. Our priority for funding the ITF remains the Balkan states, but we do see the ITF as a viable means to direct U.S. mine action support to other mine-affected areas, particularly in Europe, when the ITF offers the best or most expedient opportunity for doing so. We do not, however, mean to impose that view on others, who have humanitarian objectives that may differ slightly from our own. We respect those differences.

The U.S. wants to express its gratitude for the tremendous accomplishments that have been achieved as a result of the generosity of the countries represented in this room. The partnership all of us have forged with the ITF is proof that working together and coordinating mutual interests provides the best opportunity for meaningful results.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to add a personal note. I know that I speak for all of use when I wish Mr. Cimpersek, who will undergo surgery next week, a fully successful recovery and a speedy return. In the meantime, we look forward with confidence to working with the ITF's very capable Deputy Director, Mr. Gacnik and with an equally capable ITF staff.

Thank you.