Eight Turkish military officers participate in NATO drill in Armenia

Eight military officers from Turkey have participated in “humanitarian aid in disaster relief” drill held by NATO in Lori Mar region of Armenia. The drill has begun on Saturday and will end on September 17, Friday. Turkish officials will be in the region of Lori Mar, Armenia at the headquarters from September 11 to 17. Supply and evacuation operation in the Lori region in the north is envisaged via Georgia. Turkish officers also passed to Armenia via Georgia. The military exercise has been planned by the Euro-Atlantic Disasters Response Coordination Center, or EADRCC, under the NATO umbrella, where all decisions are based on the unanimity of votes. EADRCC organizes humanitarian assistance practices in member countries of the European Atlantic Partnership Council, or EAPC, aiming at cooperation between neighbouring non-member countries. The Council has prepared a scenario of a devastating earthquake in Armenia for the drill, titled “Armenia-2010.” According to the scenario, the infrastructure of the country ruins completely in the aftermath of a large earthquake, and 20,000 people die. Hazardous industrial waste spills, in the scenario. The drill includes rescue, evacuation and the fight with hazardous waste. The goal is to see how NATO and council members coordinate with each other. 600 officials and 40 observers from 15 countries, including Turkey participates in the practice.