ArmInfo.Congressman David Valadao, on the initiative of which the US legislature decided to allocate additional funds for demining operations in Nagorno-Karabakh, today visited the Republic of Artsakh.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman David Valadao (R-CA) visited Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) today, where, alongside government officials and ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian, he reviewed life-saving HALO Trust de-mining programs that he has helped fund as a leading member of the House Appropriations Committee, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
During his meeting with the HALO Trust's Regional Director Ash Boddy and local leaders, portions of which were broadcast live on their Facebook page, Rep. Valadao saw first-hand the lifesaving efforts of the organization, which, over the last 16 years, has destroyed over 8,733 anti-personnel mines, 2,584 anti-tank landmines, 180,858 small arms ammunition, 12,423 cluster bombs and 48,572 other explosive items in Artsakh. The HALO Trust looks to complete Artsakh de-mining efforts by 2020.
To note, a delegation of representatives of the US Congress arrived in Yerevan on September 17 to initiate the US Congressman of Armenian origin Jackie Spir Kanchelyan. The delegation includes Congressman Frank Pallon who, even during the devastating earthquake in Spitak, also brought American assistance to Armenia, another Congressman of Armenian origin, Anna Eshu, and Congressman David Valadao. Armenia will also be visited by Congressman Tulsi Gaball from the Hawaiian Islands and Congressman Jim Skenbrenner representing Wisconsin.