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Public Lecture: Landmine Clearance in Nagorno Karabakh

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  • Public Lecture: Landmine Clearance in Nagorno Karabakh

    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)
    <http://www.halousa.org> www.halousa.org

    Info from www.halousa.org <http://www.halousa.org> :
    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.
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