Ambassador in Kiev chairs UN meeting on demining

(ANSA) - ROMA, 07 OTT - The Italian Ambassador to Ukraine, Carlo Formosa, chaired the meeting of the UN Mine Action Support Group in Kiev, in the presence of the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, and representatives of all donor countries. The meeting anticipated the next Ukraine Mine Action Conference, scheduled to take place in Lausanne on 17 and 18 October, and reaffirmed the commitment of Italy and donor countries to work together to save lives and support the Ukrainian people.
    In his opening speech, Ambassador Formosa emphasised the urgency of taking decisive, synergetic and coordinated action in a critical context such as Ukraine, where almost 25 per cent of the country's territory is potentially contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance. "The presence of mines not only directly threatens human life, but also hinders the recovery of the economy, agricultural productivity and the return of displaced populations," said the Italian head of mission in Kiev.
    The ambassador also outlined the Italian Cooperation's contribution to demining in Ukraine, amounting to EUR 16.4 million over the past two years. Most of the funds have been allocated to demining projects through Italian civil society organisations, as well as to the purchase of equipment for land clearance and an initiative to support three medical centres for assisting victims of explosive devices in Lviv.