Conference "Development of Mine Affected Municipalities and Civil Society Challenges 2009 – 2019", in organization by Coalition for Associating Mine Action with Development, was held on June 08, 2010, in hotel Sarajevo.

Eco Sports Group participated in the above mentioned conference which dealt with the issues of mine pollution and mine risks and we would like to take this opportunity to present you with some of the highlights from the conference.

Conference was opened by Mr. Nikola Špirić, Chairmen of Council of Ministers B&H. In his opening statement Mr. Špirić presented the mine situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina giving very detailed and concise information.

Opening statements were followed by presentation of the member of State Committee for Demining, and spokesman of the coalition which organized the conference, Mr. Mustafa Alikadić who stressed out that "during 2010 the priorities for de-mining have do be identified"(?).

Mr. Ahdin Orahovac, BH MAC deputy director, continued the conference and presented the participants with the concrete problem of financing the execution of mine action strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to Mr. Orahovac the strategy would cost around "30 million KM"! Mr. Orahovac finished his presentation with praise for nongovernmental sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina in dealing with these issues.

We were especially intrigued by the video about the life of returnees to municipalities Stolac-Berkovići where civilians are "forced" to personally remove mines and UXO in order to fulfill the basic human needs which are defined by Maslov's hierarchy of needs. In all their hardships, citizens coined their struggle for survival into a folk "ganga" song which says something like this:

"My customs are dearer to me, than You America and your dollars´ gleam".