EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND UNDP SIGN AGREEMENT TO DEMINE JORDAN - SYRIAN BORDER
Amman, 24 April 2008 -The European Commission and United Nations Development Programme signed today an agreement to support the mine clearance along the border between Jordan and Syria. Present at the ceremony was also His Royal Highness Prince Mired, Chairperson of the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR) and Her Excellency Suhair Al Ali, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation.
The Northern Border Clearance Project will address the single largest outstanding demining-task remaining in Jordan and represents the final phase of NCDR's long-term strategy to demine Jordan. Through its support, the European Commission wishes to respond to the pressing development needs of northern Jordan, in the area bordering Syria, and links up with the Government’s economic expansion efforts to capitalise on Jordan’s strategic geographical position linking the Red Sea port of Aqaba with Syria.
When completed, approximately 12 million m2 of land will be released directly from demining operations and the military buffer zone currently in place will be removed freeing a minimum of a further 50 km2; the risk of mine accidents for a local population of 50,000 will be removed; the border area will become less militarised; and Jordan will have made significant progress towards meeting its Mine Ban Treaty obligation.
The duration of the assistance will be 24 months and the contribution of the European Commission is 4 500 000 Euros. The overall management of the agreement will be directly supervised and monitored by UNDP, while NCDR and the Norweigan People’s Ais will ensure its implementation.
The European Commission and UNDP are longstanding partners to Jordan in mine action. Since 2005 the European Commission has provided 800 000 Euros through UNDP to help demine north Shunah in Jordan Valley. This action is expected to be finalised this year.
In 2007, the European Commission made available to Jordan € 62 million through the first European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument's Annual Action Programme. Within this envelope € 15 million were devoted to supporting the development of the private sector with a view to increasing investments through a services modernisation programme. Further € 42.5 million were devoted to a budget support operation to support the public finance reform programme and in particular fiscal stability and a more efficient allocation of financial resources. Finally, € 4.5 million were allocated for mine clearance of the northern border.