THE HEAD OF HALO TRUST MISSION IN NAGORNO KARABAKH DECLARES HIS ORGANIZATION DOES NOT DEAL WITH RECONNAISSANCE ACTIVITY

PanARMENIAN.Net - 15.08.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. In connection with the accusations of the Russian Federal Security Service addressed to the international HALO Trust organization, the head of its mission in Nagorno Karabakh Simon Porter told the correspondent of MEDIAMAX that HALO Trust deals only with minefields inspection, humanitarian mine-clearing teaching, and has never turned to reconnaissance services or provided them with any information.

He stressed that charging HALO Trust with undermining activities is groundless. Azerbaijan has addressed such accusations to the organization when in 1995-1996 HALO Trust was demining the territories of Nagorno Karabakh and preparing multiprofile specialists-mine layers, said Simon Porter.

In March 2000 HALO Trust returned to Nagorno Karabakh. The representatives of the organization are cooperating with the field-engineer battalion of the Defense Army of RNK and the Emergency situations department of the republic.

HALO Trust plans to stay in RNK up to the end of January 2001. As Simon Porter affirms, in case sufficient funds are found, the organization is ready to extend its contract with the authorities of RNK. --0--