Signing
of NATO Trust Fund with Jordan
On
3
December 2007
NATO launched the first ever Mediterranean Dialogue Trust Fund with
Jordan
to assist this country with the elimination of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW),
through the funding of a survey and by delivering ERW location and search
equipment to the Jordanian Armed Forces.
The
location and destruction of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and other explosive
remnants of war will increase the safety
and security of affected communities, improving land use in the affected
areas.
The Trust Fund will also
improve the capability of the Jordan Armed Forces to identify and
destroy
old, unserviceable and obsolete ammunition stockpiles, which will increase the safety and
security aspects of local workers, service men as well as population leaving
close to ammunition
depots.
Representatives
of Norway,
Spain
and Switzerland,
the lead nations on the project, signed two agreements with the NATO Maintenance
and Supply Agency (NAMSA) and the Office of Financial Controller, during a
ceremony at NATO Headquarters hosted by the NATO Deputy Secretary General, in
the presence of the Ambassador of Jordan to the
Kingdom
of Belgium.
Representatives of Belgium,
Finland
and Italy,
the other contributing nations also attended the ceremony.
The
conclusion of these two agreements follows the signing on 25
April 2007
of the Memorandum of Understanding
between the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) and the Jordanian
Authorities.
During the signing ceremony
the Deputy Secretary General Amb. Claudio Bisogniero said that this event: "
will effectively launch the first ever Trust Fund project with one of NATOÂ’s
Mediterranean Dialogue partners, and hopefully serve as an example for other
Mediterranean partners to follow. Second, it will mark the start of a new,
innovative kind of cooperation, where civilian and military expertise is
combined in the destruction of redundant ammunition stockpiles and unexploded
ordnance".
"And third the Trust Fund
project should help to build confidence between us and demonstrate to the
Jordanian public the merits of working together with the
Alliance in the context
of our Mediterranean Dialogue.
".
The
Trust Fund project with Jordan
will contribute to the enhancement of NATO cooperation with Mediterranean
Dialogue countries.
The total cost of the project is estimated at EUR 3,4 millions over a
period of 24 months.