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Signature of Memorandum of Understanding |
| July 18, 2007 |
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Deputy Minister of Defence Mr. P. Karabina
and UNDP DRR Mr. P. Peirce |
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On July 18, 2007 a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Albanian Ministry of Defence and the United Nations Programme in Albania for bilateral cooperation in the implementation of the Albanian Mine Action Programme until 2010. For the Ministry of Defence the MoU was signed by the deputy Minister of Defence Mr. Petrit Karabina, who also holds the position of chairman of the Albanian Mine Action Committee, while Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Philip Peirce signed for UNDP. The signature of the MoU reconfirms the commitment of the Albanian Government, in particular the Ministry of Defence, to the Albanian Mine Action Programme, as well as acknowledges UNDP's technical and financial support to the programme provided since 2002. Albania aims to be free from mines by 2010.
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Review Victim Assistance Workshop |
| April 11 - 12, 2007 |
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Photo of the Participants during the Workshop |
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Photo of the Participants during the Working groups
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The Review Victim Assistance (VA) Workshop was held at the premises of hotel "Diplomat" in Tirana with the support of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) experts and the International Trust Fund (ITF) in Slovenia on April 11-12, 2007. The VA workshop brought together representatives from the Albanian Government, the donor community, international and local NGO-s, and landmine survivors themselves. The VA workshop provided the opportunity for all VA partners to meet together to review the support that has been provided to landmine/UXO survivors to date and agree on the future actions remaining to be taken.
Data gathering methods in health centres and hospitals in Albania was identified as an issue to be improved for collecting and using future information. The National Prosthetic & Orthotic Centre (NPOC) is the main medical structure in Albania keeping a database for mine/ERW survivors but this is not complete and should be upgraded both technically and functionally. Mr. Braha (Director of AMAE) stressed that is the AMAE responsibility to collect, process, and share data on mine casualties with the government and other VA partners. The Albanian Red Cross (ARC) and Victims of Mines and Weapons Association (VMA) are supporting AMAE in collecting this information using the standardized IMSMA incident report format.
Other areas for improvement reviewed during the VA workshop include emergency and primary healthcare in Northeast Albania, capacity building to repair/maintain the prosthesis in the Kukės region, equality for people with disabilities, upgrading the conditions of the NPOC, and utilizing the expertise being developed in other areas.
On the second day, participants at the workshop were separated into two different working groups. The first group reviewed the emergency, primary and hospital care currently available including physical rehabilitation and fitting of prosthesis, while the second group reviewed the current status in social support and socio-economic re-integration.
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| UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action |
| April 04, 2007 |
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The Albanian Government and the United Nations in Albania celebrated the 2nd annual UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action to raise awareness of the landmine problem in Albania and the progress that has been made towards their eradication.
The event, co-hosted by the Albanian Ministry of Defense and the UN, took place at the Military Cultural Centre in Tirana and brought together state authorities, representatives of the donor community, NGOs, and mine survivors to raise attention about the dangers of landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). A photo exhibition relevant to Albania's mine problem was displayed with information material about clearance, mine risk education and victim assistance.
Guest speaker, Gazmir Muhadri a landmine survivor injured in 1999, shared his story about the dangers of landmines in Northeast Albania and how he was injured. Since his accident Mr. Muhadri received medical treatment and socio-economic support, which he thanked AMAE, VMA Kukes, international donors and the local government for. He also requested that similar support continue in the future for other mine survivors and their families.
Mr. Petrit Karabina, the Deputy Minister of Defense, stressed that the day Albania will be declared free from mines and unexploded ordnance is not far away. Mr. Karabina pledged the commitment of the Albanian Government to take ownership of the Mine Action programme and appealed to partners and donors to continue working together to ensure a safer place for Albanians to live.
Ms. Gulden Turkoz-Cosslet, UN Resident Representative, spoke about the obstacle landmines pose to development in contaminating the land and creating fear in the civilian population living there.. Ms. Turkoz-Cosslet stressed that the challenge posed by explosive remnants of war can be won and Albania is not far from being fully free from landmines. Ms. Turkoz-Cosslett. thanked the joint efforts of all stakeholders, as more than 85 percent of the affected land in Northeast Albania has now been cleared and released back to the communities living there. The vision of the United Nations is a world free from the threat of landmines and ERW, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development. |
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