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  • To Get Rid Of The Deadly Load

    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
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