For his part, the Secretary-General of the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), Dr. Vladimir Kalashnikov addressed the party, saying that "We are meeting today for the sake of an important issue, the threat of landmines, especially those that have claimed the lives of many not only in Yemen, but also in many other countries, including Libya, Syria and Iraq". He pointed out that the ICDO has a long history in the field of dealing with landmines in several regions around the world including Serbia, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Lebanon and others, adding that Yemen has always been an active member since joining the organization. Therefore, the ICDO will not abandon Yemen during these difficult times as it will help Yemen through the assistance from ICDO partners and other Member States such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He praised the cooperation between the ICDO and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), looking forward to continue the work closely with the KSrelief in the future to achieve the common goals in the field of protecting the communities and lands from disasters. The ICDO Secretary-General expressed hope and confidence in the success of the Saudi Project for Landmines Clearance (MASAM). --SPA 18:44 LOCAL TIME 15:44 GMT 0023 www.spa.gov.sa/w708012