Zagreb - MPs on Tuesday supported a final bill ratifying an agreement between the governments of Croatia and Ukraine on cooperation in mine action, while the opposition warned that many in Croatia still live near suspected mine-contaminated areas.
Interior Minister Davor Božinović recalled that on 11-12 October 2023, an international donor conference on humanitarian demining was organised with the Ukrainian government in Zagreb, where 34 countries expressed clear political support for demining Ukraine and raised half a billion euros in aid, including five million allocated by Croatia.
Božinović said that, due to the Russian aggression, it was impossible to determine the extent of the mine-contaminated areas in Ukraine, but rough estimates suggest at least 170,000 square kilometres. A significant portion of this is in urban areas with the highest concentration of population and infrastructure. Furthermore, mine-contaminated agricultural land not only poses a challenge for Ukraine's economy but also threatens global food supply security.
He said that at the beginning of 2023, the Croatian government initiated the signing of a cooperation agreement on mine action with Ukraine, which Božinović signed during the margins of the international donor conference on humanitarian demining in Zagreb.
Through this agreement, Croatia will provide humanitarian and technical assistance to Ukraine after its liberation, he said, emphasising Croatia's experience in demining following the Homeland War. The cooperation outlined in the agreement primarily focuses on expert training in technical surveying and clearing of minefields, educating the population about the risks of explosive devices, and similar activities, he added.
During the debate, the opposition welcomed the agreement but also pointed out that thousands of people in Croatia still live near suspected mine-contaminated areas.
Highlighting that Croatia has the opportunity to become a leader in demining on a global scale, Zvonimir Troskot (Bridge) said the Greater Serbia aggression and the Homeland War left dangerous minefields, which continue to threaten lives, agricultural land, infrastructure, and tourism. "According to estimates, thousands of people still live near suspected mine-contaminated areas."
The SDP's Ranko Ostojić also welcomed the ratification of the agreement, noting that Croatia's demining experience can only benefit Ukraine. He said that in earlier demining plans, 2019 was the final deadline for completing the task in Croatia, which has now been extended to March 2026. However, he added that experts believe 2034 is the "realistic year" by which suspected mine areas in Croatia could be cleared.
From 1998 to 2022, €1 billion was spent on demining, 607 people were injured, and 204 died, including 38 deminers.
According to Božinović, 1 March 2026 is the final deadline by which Croatia will be declared mine-free. He said 45.5 square kilometres remain mine-contaminated in the Split-Dalmatia, Karlovac, Sisak-Moslavina, and Lika-Senj counties.