| |
Field visit of UN Resident Representative, US Ambassador, Minister of Defense and Minister of Agriculture to Minefields in Northeast Albania. |
| May 25, 2006 |
| |
 |
|
UN Resident Representative in Albania, US Ambassador Ries with Ministers Mediu and Gjana during the visit to Mine Action operation area in Kukes, May 2006 |
|
| |
|
On May 25 2006, the Albanian Mine Action programme (AMAP) had the opportunity to present the main activities taking place in Northeast Albania to some of the key supporters of the AMAP including the UN Resident Representative (UNRR), the US ambassador, the Minister of Defence (MoD), and the Minister of Agriculture (MoAg).
The high profile visit commenced with a briefing on the Mine Action Programme at the UNDP Regional Office in Kukes, followed by a visit to the Kukes Regional Hospital including the Prostheses Support Centre established by UNDP in 2005 and the surgical theatre, which received new equipment from the US DoS in early 2005 to assist mine victims. The highlight of the day involved a manual demining demonstration from Danish Church Aid (DCA), the local NGO-Victims of Mines and Arms' (VMA) mobile theatre Mine Risk Education (MRE) presentation, and a picnic lunch with the mine affected community of Dobrune, Has. Due to poor road conditions and limited time, the high profile guests arrived and departed the mine-affected village by the MoD helicopter.
The donor trip was very successful in that the AMAP was able to show to the high level mission the importance of the programme and the direct humanitarian impact it has on the mine-affected communities. All partners (the US Embassy, the MoD, the MoAg, and UNDP) expressed their continued strong support to the end of the AMAP in order to help Albania achieve it's goal of a mine-free country by the end of 2009. |
| |
 |
| |
| |
Albania celebrates the International Day for Mine Awareness
and Assistance in Mine Action |
| April 04, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
Major Arben Braha, DMoD Mr. Karabina, UN Resident Representative Ms. Gulden Turkoz-Cosslet, MP Has Jemin Gjana, and mine victim Izet Ademi |
|
Landmine victims Gent Ramadani and Izet Adami
|
The United Nations General Assembly declared April 4 the International Day for Mines Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on April 4 2006, a specific day designated throughout the world to raise awareness on the global landmine problem. Albania, being one of 82 mine-affected countries in the world, honored this important day with the Albanian Government and the United Nations in Albania through organizing an event in Tirana to raise awareness about landmines and progress towards their eradication in Albania.
The event, co-hosted by the Albanian Ministry of Defense and the UN at the premises of Tirana's Military Cultural Centre, brought together state authorities, representatives of the donor community, implementing partners, and mine survivors to draw renewed attention to the issue of landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) as a life threatening phenomenon but also as a clear obstacle to sustainable development. Mine survivors shared their testimonies, the UN resident coordinator Ms. Gülden Türköz Cosslett and the Deputy Minister of Defense Mr. Petrit Karabina reasserted their commitment to supporting Albania achieve it's goal of becoming mine-free by the end of 2009, awareness material outlining all Mine Action activities from data collection and clearance to mine risk education, victim assistance and development of cleared areas, was displayed, and a TV spot on the UNDP supported Mine Action Programme in Albania was shown both during the event as well as on primetime national television.
|
| |
|
|
|
