U.S. Commits $5 million to Conventional Weapons Destruction Assistance in Kosovo, 7 October 2019
Today, the United States committed an additional $5 million to clear cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Kosovo. Set to be implemented over four years (2020-2023), this assistance is expected to return at least 4,298,442 square meters (1,060 acres) of hazardous land back to the people of Kosovo. This is the largest single contribution of conventional weapons destruction funding from the United States in Kosovo since the U.S. began its Kosovo program in 1996. This contribution will address high-impact sites contaminated with cluster munitions and ERW, eventually turning over residual landmine contamination for national authorities to address with their own national capacity.
From 1996 to 2019, the U.S. conventional weapons destruction program has invested more than $9.7 million in support of Kosovo’s effort to address the legacy of cluster munitions and ERW. From October 2016 until June 2019, the United States has enabled the return of 3,254,566 square meters (804 acres) of land back to the people of Kosovo. By late 2020, the United States will have contributed to the return of at least 4,288,561 square meters (1059 acres) of land since October 2016.
The United States’ conventional weapons program in Kosovo is implemented by The HALO Trust and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) with the support of the Kosovo Mine Action Center.
For further information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at PM-CPA@state.gov, and follow the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs on Twitter, @StateDeptPM.
