Hasmik Dilanyan
Public Radio of Armenia
French organization “Civil Defense without borders” has donated seven fire-rescue vehicles to the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations, Deputy Director of the Rescue Service, Major-General Nikolay Grigoryan told reporters today.
Chairman of the NGO, Fire Service Colonel Bernard Zhanen, in turn, prized the capacities of the Armenian Ministry.
Bernard Zhanen first visited Armenia after the Spitak earthquake, as a volunteer with his friends – firefighter-rescuers. Since then he has returned to Armenia many times, each time with a new useful initiative. In September 2011, on the occasion of the Emergency Employee Day, for his great personal contribution to the system Bernard Zhanen was awarded by President Serzh Sargsyan with a Medal of Honor. He is also an adviser to the Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia.
“He has donated tens of vehicles, as well as other equipment to Armenia within the framework of our cooperation; a number of training courses for specialists, Governors and Mayors have been organized,” Nikolay Grigoryan said.
“The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations is the best in the Commonwealth of Independent States. We now have a wonderful crisis management center, which not all countries can afford,” he added.
Armenia and France plan to establish voluntary rescue teams. Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Yeritsyan is the author of the initiative. The work will be voluntary, but the staff will enjoy certain privileges.
