Kurt Chesko of the HALO USA (Humanitarian Landmine Clearance) will speak at
10:30 AM on Saturday, May 15th at The Glendale Public Library’s Central
Auditorium (222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA
91205).
The NKR Office encourages participation of the general public and
representatives of the LA-based Armenian-American organizations.
Vardan Barseghian
Representative of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
122 C Street, NW, Suite 360
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 347-5166
Fax: (202) 347-5168
For additional information, please contact:
Kurt Chesko
Program Officer
HALO USA
Humanitarian Landmine Clearance
850 Seventh Avenue, Suite 506
New York, NY 10019
212 581 0099 (tel)
212 581 2029 (fax)
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In Nagorno Karabakh defensive minefields were laid by both Azeri and
pro-Karabakhi forces. Moves in the front lines resulted in minefields and
significant quantities of UXO being left in peaceful areas needed for
agriculture. In many areas access to prime land is denied and the steady
stream of casualties indicates the requirement for widespread mineclearance
ahead of cultivation. Aid organizations in the region have had to restrict
their operations due to fears of landmines on or just beside roads and the
presence of unexploded ordnance in and around many villages.
In 1995 and 1996 HALO conducted an 18-month long program in Karabakh that
established a mineclearance capacity for the local authorities. This
included a survey of the region and the equipping and training of deminers.
The teams operated without assistance for three years and whilst they
successfully cleared hundreds of mines, their equipment had degraded and
accurate records of clearance had not been kept for some time.
HALO returned to Karabakh in 2000 with a view to reinforcing capacity
through a project of re-equipment, providing additional training and by
establishing a mine action centre (MAC). The MAC collates information
concerning mines, UXO and safe routes, and disseminates it to all who
require it, in particular other NGOs and international humanitarian bodies
operating in Karabakh.
In addition to landmines, unexploded ordnance is as great a problem in
Nagorno Karabakh. In response, HALO deploys three mobile explosive ordnance
disposal teams that clear hundreds of hazardous items every month.