The ceremonial handover of the demined part of the former military airport Željava, located in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely the city of Bihać, was held today. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Armed Forces of BiH, BH MAC, the Government of the Una-Sana Canton and the City of Bihać, thus completing an important phase in securing this area for civilian use.
Demining of this area began almost two years ago at the initiative of the Aero Club “Željava” with the aim of establishing an airfield. The project was complex and demanding, and the works officially began on April 13, 2023.
As stated by Senior Sergeant First Class Hamdija Subašić, commander of the demining team, a total of 146 mines and explosive devices were found during the works, including 46 mines. Thanks to targeted investigations and support from members of the Aero Club, significant time was saved in the demining process.
The Prime Minister of the Una-Sana Canton, Nijaz Hušić, who attended the ceremony, emphasized the importance of the project for the City of Bihać and the entire Canton.
“This is happening almost 30 years after the end of the war in BiH, and we are still facing these challenges. I am pleased with the fact that the USK authorities and the Armed Forces of BiH have excellent cooperation, which has led to this extremely important project for Bihać,” said Hušić.
The City of Bihać, according to Izet Imširović, Head of the Protection Department at the Civil Protection of Bihać, sees this project as an opportunity for tourism development.
“The demined Željava, with its rich history, attracts the interest of the international public. This is a great advantage for our city, and we sincerely thank every member of the demining team, the Armed Forces, the USK Government and BH MAC,” said Imširović.
According to Aladin Bajraktarević, Head of the BH MAC Regional Office in Bihać, the Una-Sana Canton has the largest area under suspected mine threat in BiH, and significant support will continue to be needed in the demining process to ensure the safety of citizens and enable the development of the entire region.
Source and photo: Federalna
