Croatia declared free of landmines after 31 years (glashrvatske.hrt.hr)

Article summary

Croatia has been declared free of landmines after 31 years, with all known minefields cleared at a cost of around 1.2 billion euros and the loss of 208 lives. The demining effort was completed in accordance with the Ottawa Convention. The country's interior minister announced the milestone, stating that it marks a major achievement and a fulfillment of a moral obligation to the victims of mines and their families. The clearance of landmines is expected to lead to safer communities, better development of rural areas, and stronger tourism.

Main themes

• landmine clearance
• demining efforts
• Ottawa Convention
• conflict zones
• technological solutions
• international cooperation
• rebuilding communities

What commenters say

• The use of drones and other technologies can aid in demining efforts, but may not be reliable or effective in all situations.
• Some countries, such as Vietnam and Australia, still have significant numbers of unexploded ordnance and landmines that have not been cleared.
• The removal of landmines is a crucial step towards rebuilding and developing communities affected by conflict.
• The use of landmines is indiscriminate and can cause harm to civilians long after conflicts have ended, making their removal a moral imperative.
• Alternative methods, such as training rats to detect explosives, may be effective in certain contexts.
• The clearance of landmines can have significant economic and social benefits, including increased safety and tourism.
• Some countries are still laying new landmines, which is a concerning trend that undermines international efforts to ban their use.
• The process of clearing landmines can take decades or even centuries, requiring sustained effort and investment.