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TO GET RID OF THE DEADLY LOAD
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
01 Oct 04
In May 1994 the conflict sides agreed to maintain a cease-fire in
Artsakh. However, this could not be considered the end of the war
because we again faced it in the form of deadly mines. It was
necessary to start clearing from mines huge territories which used to
be farming land, roads, forests and simply our surroundings. According
to Red Cross, in the invaded and returned areas along the border both
sides of the conflict have installed 50 thousand units of medium and
large size mines and other explosives. Still in mid-2000 the
coordinator of the Caucasian bureau of the British organization `The
HALO Trust' Richard Boater mentioned the fact that Karabakh is not
recognized hinders acquirement of financial means for implementing
programs in Nagorni Karabakh. Nevertheless, he mentioned that if
necessary financial means are acquired, the organization is ready to
elongate the agreement with the NKR government till the complete
clearance of the territory of the republic from mines. In fact, the
humanitarian mission of this British charity is worth high
appreciation. Nevertheless, the official and non-official propaganda
machine of Azerbaijan keeps accusing it of espionage. The directors of
the Caucasian bureau and the program in Nagorni Karabakh have denied
such accusations stating that `The HALO Trust' exclusively deals with
survey of mine fields, teaches people the difficult but necessary job
of mine clearance, therefore any accusations that the organization
cooperates with certain reconnaissance services are groundless. Anyway,
the problem of mine disposal is attracting more and more public
interest. Several years ago journalists from Russia, Georgia,
Azerbaijan, Abkhazia and Nagorni Karabakh gathered in the resort town
Tsaghkadzor in Armenia during a two-day seminar organized by the RF
committee `Doctors of the World AgainstNuclear War' and the national
committee of Armenia of the international movement against
antipersonnel mines. The coordinator of the recently established
committee of the international movement against antipersonnel mines
doctor Ashot Adamian presented to the participants of the seminar the
general situation of mine clearance in Artsakh, showed the reels made
by Red Cross and the republic television warning the population
against the danger of mines and teaching how they may avoid
it. Besides, together with the Stepanakert office of the Red Cross
illustrated booklets and posters were printed, puppet shows were
performed,signs warning against the danger of minefields were put on
the sides of the important roads of NKR in the Armenian and Russian
languages, etc. However, in 2004 the number of casualties of mine
explosions grew steeply. In the past nine months of the current year
13 cases of explosion of mines were reported, 18 peaceful citizens
suffered, 9 died (among them 3 children). Whereas, in 2003 there were
only 7 cases of mine explosion, the number of casualties was 10, 3
people died. According to experts, the reason is that people ignore
the danger. Besides, among them there is the wrong opinion that the
greater part of the territories has been cleared of mines, which is
far from the real situation. Since 2000 `The HALO Trust' has surveyed
about 500 minefields, 90 werecleared, as many were cleared by other
organizations. But the danger persists and people should not ignore
it. The present director of the program in NKR Edward Rowis optimistic
in reference to the continuousness and successful completion of the
program. He told this during his meeting with the president of NKR
Arkady Ghukassian who visited the head office of the organization. The
president appreciated the activity of the organization and at the same
time called them to cooperate with the local organizations more
actively in order to get rid ofthe deadly load as soon as possible.
NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN.
01-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
01 Oct 04
In May 1994 the conflict sides agreed to maintain a cease-fire in
Artsakh. However, this could not be considered the end of the war
because we again faced it in the form of deadly mines. It was
necessary to start clearing from mines huge territories which used to
be farming land, roads, forests and simply our surroundings. According
to Red Cross, in the invaded and returned areas along the border both
sides of the conflict have installed 50 thousand units of medium and
large size mines and other explosives. Still in mid-2000 the
coordinator of the Caucasian bureau of the British organization `The
HALO Trust' Richard Boater mentioned the fact that Karabakh is not
recognized hinders acquirement of financial means for implementing
programs in Nagorni Karabakh. Nevertheless, he mentioned that if
necessary financial means are acquired, the organization is ready to
elongate the agreement with the NKR government till the complete
clearance of the territory of the republic from mines. In fact, the
humanitarian mission of this British charity is worth high
appreciation. Nevertheless, the official and non-official propaganda
machine of Azerbaijan keeps accusing it of espionage. The directors of
the Caucasian bureau and the program in Nagorni Karabakh have denied
such accusations stating that `The HALO Trust' exclusively deals with
survey of mine fields, teaches people the difficult but necessary job
of mine clearance, therefore any accusations that the organization
cooperates with certain reconnaissance services are groundless. Anyway,
the problem of mine disposal is attracting more and more public
interest. Several years ago journalists from Russia, Georgia,
Azerbaijan, Abkhazia and Nagorni Karabakh gathered in the resort town
Tsaghkadzor in Armenia during a two-day seminar organized by the RF
committee `Doctors of the World AgainstNuclear War' and the national
committee of Armenia of the international movement against
antipersonnel mines. The coordinator of the recently established
committee of the international movement against antipersonnel mines
doctor Ashot Adamian presented to the participants of the seminar the
general situation of mine clearance in Artsakh, showed the reels made
by Red Cross and the republic television warning the population
against the danger of mines and teaching how they may avoid
it. Besides, together with the Stepanakert office of the Red Cross
illustrated booklets and posters were printed, puppet shows were
performed,signs warning against the danger of minefields were put on
the sides of the important roads of NKR in the Armenian and Russian
languages, etc. However, in 2004 the number of casualties of mine
explosions grew steeply. In the past nine months of the current year
13 cases of explosion of mines were reported, 18 peaceful citizens
suffered, 9 died (among them 3 children). Whereas, in 2003 there were
only 7 cases of mine explosion, the number of casualties was 10, 3
people died. According to experts, the reason is that people ignore
the danger. Besides, among them there is the wrong opinion that the
greater part of the territories has been cleared of mines, which is
far from the real situation. Since 2000 `The HALO Trust' has surveyed
about 500 minefields, 90 werecleared, as many were cleared by other
organizations. But the danger persists and people should not ignore
it. The present director of the program in NKR Edward Rowis optimistic
in reference to the continuousness and successful completion of the
program. He told this during his meeting with the president of NKR
Arkady Ghukassian who visited the head office of the organization. The
president appreciated the activity of the organization and at the same
time called them to cooperate with the local organizations more
actively in order to get rid ofthe deadly load as soon as possible.
NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN.
01-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress