U.S. Government grants vehicles to Armenian border guards

The vehicles will be used to help secure the borders of Armenia. U.S. Charge d'Affaires Anthony F. Godfrey and Armenian National Security Service Deputy Director Major General Romik Harutyunian participated in the official transfer ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy. Also in attendance was Major General Armen Abrahamian, Commander of the Border Guard Forces. "Armenia's Border Guard Forces recognize the important responsibility they have to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other illicit materials," Godfrey said. "These sturdy vehicles are well-suited to the rough terrain of some of Armenia's remote border regions and will help the Border Guards achieve their mission."

The Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance Program, administered by the Department of State, has been operating in Armenia since the year 2000. The program operates in more than 45 countries, and is designed to strengthen and secure borders by providing the latest in interdiction equipment, and by developing the enforcement skills of both the Border Guards and the State Customs Committee in the fight against worldwide terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and chemical and biological warfare.

The EXBS Program for Armenia continues to conduct formal training seminars both locally and in the United States in order to provide Border Guards and Customs Officers with advanced interdiction techniques necessary to identify sophisticated nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Over the last several years, the EXBS Assistance Program has equipped the Border Guards and Customs Services of Armenia with various types of inspection and detection equipment, including a radio-communication system, several types of border sensors, metal detectors, vehicles, computer equipment, cargo truck scales, and X-ray units.

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