Cooperation
Cooperation on international level required close cooperation between CROMAC and Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Croatian diplomatic missions throughout the world and Croatian Ministry of Defense. Apart from fulfilment of the commitments undertaken by Croatia signing the Ottawa Treaty, international cooperation activities have mostly consisted of raising demining funds, capacity building, mine victims assistance and mine risk education. International cooperation also includes taking part in different conferences of regional and international level that enable us to promote and present achievement of Croatian mine action system.
It is particularly important to point out six international symposiums “Humanitarian Demining” held in Šibenik from 2004-2009 in the organization of CROMAC and CROMAC-Centre for Testing, Development and Training Ltd. These international symposiums were participated by representatives of national mine action centres, UN organizations, NGOs, scientific institutions, demining companies and protective equipment manufacturers from 30 countries and all continents. International symposiums’ topics were mine action, use and testing of demining machines, mine and UXO detection, mechanical demining, general survey, quality control and quality assurance.
In April 2008, CROMAC and International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance hosted the 11th International Meeting of Mine Action Programme Directors and United Nations Advisers. Over 210 directors, assistant directors and UN advisors, from almost 70 countries from all over the world attended the Meeting. During five meeting days, 11 plenary and numerous breakout sessions were held discussing solutions for improvement and acceleration of mine problem solving process.
During the years of CROMAC work, the confirmation for CROMAC respectable reputation and expertise in world mine action was clearly given by international mine action authorities. This has given CROMAC an excellent opportunity for providing technical support to other national mine action centres in the region and wider, initiating joint projects as well as joint approach to the donor community. The Croatian mine action system leaded by CROMAC can offer the following to the international community involved in mine action:
- Establishment of the National Mine Action Centre
- Legislative and normative regulations
- Establishment of MIS (Mine Information System) and Geographic Information System (CROMAC-GIP)
- Planning System – development of National Strategy, development of Annual Operative Plans
- Education of humanitarian demining staff (deminers, auxiliary workers and management)
- Protective equipment and demining machines manufactures in the Republic of Croatia
- Capacities and know-how of the Croatian demining companies
- Capacities for testing demining machines, equipment and devices as well as new methodologies for mine and UXO detection
The establishment of Cluster for humanitarian demining in July 2008, created the opportunity forthe export of Croatian knowledge and technology to foreign markets or in countries that have a mine problem. Cluster, through its founders and its associated members, in one place ensures the capacity, resources and knowledge to carry out all activities related to mine action. As the knowledge, technologies and products greatly surpassed the needs of Croatia, the intention is to offer the same knowledge and resources to countries with mine problem for its faster removal. The main objective of this association is to improve efficiency through a variety of advanced economic processes: changing and improving methodology, components, machines, services and through adaptation and access to new regions, and all for the purpose of establishing a mine action as Croatian export product.
International cooperation in the area of sharing Croatian mine action experiences is currently being developed with eight countries. Four countries (Azerbaijan, Yemen, Libya, Ukraine) signed an agreement for cooperation, and with two countries (Egypt, Georgia) an agreement was made and is expected to be signed. Cooperation with Sri Lanka and Turkey will be carried directly through the Cluster for Humanitarian Demining, since they are interested in the Croatian manufacturers of equipment for humanitarian demining.
