UN report on Egypt's landmines problem
Egypt, Local, 7/12/2000

The UN report issued on Tuesday, focused on landmines problem and its adverse impact on the humanitarian, social and economic environment in Egypt.

Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the UN Ambassador Ahmed Abul Gheit said that the report underlined the important role that can be played by the international community in this regard.

He said those countries that had planted these mines can also have a significant role to clear them.

According to the Ambassador he said these countries should provide maps and information on the sites in which the mines had been planted.

The report also said that economic development in Egypt necessitates the rapid handling of the problem so that development projects could be carried out in the western Sahara, that has potential for further projects.

Abul Gheit said that contacts, according to the UN report, will be intensified over the coming stage with donor countries to benefit from their contribution to removing mines.

"Establishment of an international fund for dealing with the issue of mines is being considered," he said.

"Recommendations in the report are also being considered so that they can be translated into a tangible reality," he said.

The report mirrored the UN appreciation of efforts exerted by Egypt and its armed forces to remove these mines.

A UN team had visited Egypt last February and checked the mine fields in the Western Desert to get first hand knowledge on the problem and its dimensions.

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