U.S. PROVIDES DEMINING EQUIPMENT TO ARMENIAN DEMINING UNIT
Lragir
Jan 25 2008
Armenia
Mine detection and disposal equipment provided by the United States
arrived at the Armenian Humanitarian Demining Unit this week, timed to
correspond with the arrival of U.S. Kansas National Guard soldiers who
are working to familiarize the Armenian unit with their new equipment.
The U.S. mine detection and explosive protective equipment, valued
at about $300,000.00, will be used by the Armenian unit to support
their humanitarian demining mission in Armenia. The equipment will
also support their deminers that deploy from Armenia to work with
the Coalition Forces in Iraq, where they conduct demining and mine
disposal missions.
The delivery of the mine detection and disposal equipment marks
the start of a larger program of U.S. assistance to the Armenian
Humanitarian Demining Unit in 2008. The unit, which was initially
funded in 2003 through a USAID program, will receive additional
training and equipment to enhance their capability, through the US
Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC). The ODC will team up
with the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) office based in the U.S.
European Command in Germany to provide the training in March, while
the additional equipment will be provided throughout this year.
The U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation in Armenia works to foster
U.S. government and industry assistance to Armenia in the defense
sphere. The office operates under the authority of the U.S. Chief
of Mission in Armenia and the U.S. European Command, located in
Stuttgart, Germany.