SMAC Representatives at Annual Clearing the Path Gala in Washington and Meetings with Representatives of UN Organizations in New York

SMAC was invited by a US based The Marshall Legacy Institute to attend the 2024 Annual Clearing the Path Gala celebrating achievements in mine and explosive remnants of war clearance.

The ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C., honoring distinguished individuals who have participated in the Marshall Legacy Institute’s programs and whose dedication has helped communities recover from war, and which give hope to those suffering from destabilizing effects of mines and explosive remnants of war.

This ceremony was an opportunity to highlight, among other things, the fact that since the establishment of the SMAC, the US government has been one of the most important partners and donors in the field of humanitarian demining in Serbia, but also to point out the need to increase funds for demining operations in Serbia.

The Marshall Legacy Institute is an organization that, among other things, implements mine action programs by which it provides countries threatened by mines and explosive remnants of war with the resources and training needed to demine their territory and to contribute to solving the long-term effects of mines and explosive remnants of war with their contribution, such as poor economic conditions for the most vulnerable groups in society, long-term tensions between ethnic and religious groups, and a lack of opportunities for education and leadership development for young people.

On this occasion, SMAC representatives met in Washington with representatives of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs of the State Department (PM/WRA State Department US), through which donations for demining projects in Serbia are implemented.

As part of the SMAC’s activities to acquaint the international community and donors with the size and specificity of the problem related to demining in Serbia and the need to increase donations to finance our demining projects, SMAC representatives held meetings in New York where they met with representatives of United Nations organizations – UNOPS – Peace and Security Cluster, UNDP – UN Development Program, UNMAS – UN Mine Action Service, as well as with representatives of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the UN in New York.

At the meetings, problems related to humanitarian demining in Serbia were presented, with our experience in survey, development, quality control and management of demining projects – project for clearance of explosive remnants of war in Serbia, as well as training in this area.

Also, the possibilities of improving cooperation and strengthening the capacities of the SMAC both in the field of land and underwater demining, as well as conducting training in the field of mine action, were discussed.