OSCE HELPS ARMENIA ELIMINATE TOXIC FUEL

ARMENPRESS
Sep 7, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Nearly 900 tons of highly explosive
missile fuel have been neutralized and turned into fertilizer with
the support of the OSCE, it was announced at a ceremony marking the
completion of the project September 6.

"Ensuring people’s security and environmental safety is part of
what the OSCE is about," said Colonel Jesus Anson Soro, a Senior
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, who participated in
the ceremony.

"This project is a remarkable example of co-operation between the
OSCE and Armenia to improve and protect the environmental well-being
and security of the Armenian population."

The project to eliminate the dangerous rocket fuel stocks, commonly
known as "melange", was implemented by the Ministry of Defense with
technical and financial assistance from the OSCE.

"Armenia could not make such a project on her own, as it requires
not only substantial financial resources but also the use of
environmentally friendly technologies", said General Lieutenant
Gourgen Melkonyan, Deputy Minister of Defense, " I can assure that
Armenia is eager to continue to support the peacekeeping efforts of the
international community for the benefit of the security in the region."

Ambassador Rudolf Perina, US Charge d’Affaires, speaking on behalf
of the donor community, underlined the contribution of the OSCE,
and the Office in Yerevan in particular, for achieving such an
impressive result.

"Most importantly, Armenian people at all levels participated in
the project’s successful implementation for the benefit of Armenia,"
he said.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan initiated the project in 2005 on request
from Armenia’s Defense Ministry. The recycling process of the
Soviet-era melange, stored at the Kaltakhchi military base in the
north of Armenia, began in May 2006 following a needs assessment and
other preparations, including the installation of specially designed
recycling equipment. In total, 872 tons of the highly toxic and
volatile substance were recycled into 4,972 tons of fertilizer and
sprayed on 1,243 hectares of land in co-ordination with the Ministry
of Nature Protection and local farmers.

The project was financed by Canada, Finland, Germany and the United
States.

A group of local and international experts from donor countries as
well as from Georgia and Russia closely monitored the whole process
to ensure its professional execution and environmental safety.