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The European Union has donated a next-generation remote-controlled demining machine to Armenia to support humanitarian mine clearance efforts, Peter Wagner, Head of the European Commission's Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), announced during a press briefing.
According to Wagner, the machine weighs about 20 tonnes and forms part of a €5.5 million demining assistance package provided by the EU.
He said the package includes operator training, safety and first-aid equipment, as well as a large supply of spare parts needed for operations in difficult terrain, including mountainous areas.
"This machine is part of a €5.5 million demining package that includes extensive training, as these machines are technically demanding to operate. It also includes safety equipment, first-aid kits used during demining operations, and a significant stock of spare parts because the machine will be operated remotely in very challenging environments, sometimes in mountainous terrain," Wagner said.
Wagner described demining as an essential component of peacebuilding, saying it enables people living in border communities to see and feel that their surroundings are becoming safer.
The machine will support humanitarian demining operations in hazardous areas across Armenia. It will also be used during the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process.