Deputy Minister of Defence and Director of ITF signed Memorandum
Deputy Defence Minister Višnja Tafra and Director of International humanitarian foundation ITF Enhance Human Security Dorijan Maršić signed today, August 23, in the Ministry of Defence, a Memorandum on Cooperation (MOC) in the field of munitions and explosives disposal.
MOC signing ceremony was also attended by representatives of the embassies of the United States and the Republic of Slovenia, and senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and Croatian Armed Forces.
MOC purpose is to develop cooperation between the co-signers of the Memorandum on the demilitarization and destruction of obsolete conventional ammunition and explosive devices, and to improve the conditions of storage and inventory management of ammunition.
Addressing the media Deputy Defence Minister Višnja Tafra thanked the U.S. Government for the help through the ITF Foundation, which will greatly assist the Armed Forces in the management of obsolete munitions.
she also added that this project, as another in a series of projects that Croatia successfully achieveed with the help of the U.S., was an evidence of true transnational partnerships. She said that currently the Croatian Armed Forces have 17 000 tons of obsolete munitions and donation of 1.5 million U.S. dollars would help in disposal of approximately 4 000 tons of obsolete munitions.
To implement the Agreement, ITF Enhance Human Security will call an international tender to choose the best contractor. Tafra also mentioned that some provisions of the Memorandum state the obligations of the Ministry of Defence, inter alia, to prepare the means to transport and supervise the process of destruction.
ITF director Dorijan Maršić in his address thanked the U.S. Government for inclusion by the donation in this important project of demilitarization, which would provide greater protection for people and the environment.
Project of obsolete munitions destruction on the basis of the granted funds by the United States will be conducted over the next year.
International Trust Fund (ITF), based in Slovenia, is an international organization that since 1998 was involved in mine clearance projects in the region, and so far in Croatia successfully collaborated on the mine clearance projects with Croatian Mine Clearing Centre.
VIDEO of the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation can be seen here.
[nggallery id=912]