Moz appeals for mine extension
2007-10-25 12:21
Maputo - Mozambique has appealed for an extension of the deadline by which the country was supposed to be free of landmines, official media reported on Thursday.
The government was seeking to extend the 2009 deadline after observing that several places in the country remained mined, the daily Noticias reported in its online edition.
"The situation of anti-personnel mines remains a problem for all people in the country. Additional efforts needed to be implemented in order to meet international conventions," deputy foreign affairs minister Henrique Banze was quoted as saying.
He was speaking after the launch of a de-mining programme.
Banze said additional financing and training were needed to revive the de-mining programme, which had seen funding drop by about 60%.
According to the Mozambican National Plan of Action on Landmines, in the financial year 2002/03 the country received international de-mining aid valued at $68.3m.
In the following financial year funding dropped to $12.7m.
- SAPA