Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman participated in the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC 2024), an international event on demining Ukraine, held on Thursday and Friday, October 17 and 18, 2024, in Lausanne. The conference was jointly organized by Switzerland and Ukraine. The participants were first addressed by Swiss President Viola Amherd and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, following a moment of silence for mine victims.
Grlić Radman took part in the plenary panel titled “Strategic Approach to Mine Action: Global Experiences and Ukraine’s Perspective,” emphasizing that Croatia has already provided €72.45 million in urgent, humanitarian, and development aid to Ukraine. On the topic of demining assistance, the minister highlighted that Croatia fully supports Ukraine’s National Mine Action Strategy until 2033 and its implementation plan. “We believe these documents outline the right path to reducing the impact of mines and explosive remnants, not only on human lives but also on Ukraine’s economy,” said Grlić Radman. He added that Croatia, having been a victim of aggression, understands better than most the threat posed by mines and unexploded ordnance left behind after a war.
During the panel, the minister also presented Croatia’s internationally recognized and highly regarded mine action system, which has been developed over the past three decades. "Our demining system, with technical resources on par with global standards and motivated personnel who are trained and highly skilled for all challenges, represents an export product of the highest level," Grlić Radman stated, explaining that for these reasons, Croatia is now in a position to assist Ukraine in demining efforts. He also mentioned that the first donor conference on humanitarian demining in Ukraine was held in Zagreb in October 2023, where €5 million in aid was raised.
In conclusion, the minister presented other aid packages Croatia has provided to Ukraine, including training for Ukrainian military personnel and emergency services in explosive ordnance disposal, the provision of demining equipment, participation in UNDP and EU programs, and demining agricultural areas in Ukraine. "Additionally, we are proud that more than 500 Ukrainian children have had the opportunity to attend summer and winter camps in Croatia, where they also received lectures on the dangers of mines," Grlić Radman noted.
The conference brought together high-ranking government officials, representatives from international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and academia. The high-level segment of the conference concluded with the signing of the “
Lausanne Call for Action,” a final document outlining the key guidelines for the international community’s continued efforts to assist Ukraine in humanitarian demining. During the closing of the conference, participants were addressed by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, and Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yoshifumi Tsuge. In his final remarks on the adoption of the conference’s final document, Grlić Radman stressed that he believes this document lays a solid foundation for even stronger international support for Ukraine and called on participants to work together to ensure a mine-free Ukraine, ensuring safety for all its citizens.
Photos: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
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