Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway donated seven Belgian shepherd dogs to the de-mining battalion of B&H Armed Forces, and due to this, the process of demining in B&H will increase by five thousand square meters a day.
“This means that the B&H Armed Forces with a total of 23 dogs will significantly expand its activities in the field. This will contribute to a faster demining of areas where dogs can be used for mine detection”, said for Agency Fena Refik Fazlić, the Colonel in the Operational Command of the B&H Armed Forces at today’s ceremony of the donation at the Regional Center of Norwegian People’s Aid in Vogošća.
Ambassador of Norway in B&H Vibeke Lilloe stressed that the donation is provided within the plan to strengthen the capacity of Norwegian People’s Aid to demining battalion of B&H Armed Forces.
“B&H should be proud that the Global Training Center for the dog training in mine detection of Norwegian People’s Aid has implemented a training for dogs and guiders. I hope that this donation will help to reduce the number of victims from landmines, which currently stands at 8.328”, said Ambassador Lilloe.
Darin Lisica, Regional Director of Norwegian People’s Aid and Dževad Zenunović, Commander of Demining Battalion of B&H Armed Forces signed a Memorandum of understanding between the B&H Ministry of Defense and Norwegian People’s Aid at the ceremony.
“In addition to seven dogs, which are of a superior quality, the Norwegian People’s Aid plans this year to support the demining Battalion of B&H Armed Forces to purchase 20 metal detectors, mechanical preparation of land on 700.000 m2 on demining tasks of battalion, as well as organizing workshops and trainings for management staff”, said Deputy Minister of Defense of B&H Ahmet H. Omerović.
(Source: Fena)
