U.S. PROVIDES DEMINING EQUIPMENT TO ARMENIAN DEMINING UNIT

ARMENPRESS
Jan 28, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS: 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.

A press release by the U.S. embassy in Yerevan said 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.