MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF ARMENIA AND UNDP WITH SUPPORT OF EU SIGN
AGREEMENT ON MUTUAL FINANCING BETWEEN ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY AND
UNDP

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24. ARMINFO. Today, the Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Armenia and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), with the support of the European Union, signed an Agreement on
mutual financing between the Armenian Defence Ministry and UNDP.

The press-service of the Armenian DM reports that the agreement is
part of the Armenia De-Mining Project signed by Serzh Sargsyan,
Minister of Defence and Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and
UNDP Resident Representative.

Experts estimate that there are between 6,000-8,000 antipersonnel
mines impl anted in approximately 840 square kilometres of mostly
borderland in Armenia. The impact of this mine infestation is
serious: Each year, civilians, including children, become the victims
of landmine accidents and agricultural production in tens of border
villages is hampered. One of the main aims of the Project, which will
be implemented during the next three years with a total budget of more
than 1.5 million Euro, is to strengthen the capacity of the Government
to coordinate and implement de-mining programmes. In addition, a
countrywide Landmine Impact Survey will be conducted and a new
database established. Other activities will include: a) clearance of
landmines in Syunik region; b) a public awareness campaign and mine
risk education in mine-affected areas; c) targeted victim and survivor
assistance; and d) professional training programmes for de-miners and
medical personnel.

The Armenian Humanitarian De-Mining Centre, which will act the
principal national counterpart, was established in March 2002 with the
help of the US State Department and the US Department of
Defence. According to the Landmine Victims Survey conducted in 2002,
there are 343 landmine survivors in Armenia and landmine incidents
have been recorded in all 11 regions. Armenia has not yet signed the
two international conventions on landmines due to the security
situation in the South Caucasus.

Ms. Grande noted: “This Project is valuable for a number of reasons:
it will help to reduce poverty in hard-hit areas by clearing
agricultural land of mines; it will help to reinforce the capacity of
the Government to coordinate and implement mine action programmes; and
it will increase the awareness of civilians in mine infested areas. In
an important first for UNDP, the Ministry of Defense is directly
contributing financial resources to this Project. By doing so, the
Government of the Republic of Armenia is demonstrating its concrete
commitment to humanitarian de-mining.”

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working with them on their own solutions to global and national
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