YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 8, the U.S. government donated approximately $280,000 of forensics laboratory equipment to the National Bureau of Expertises. According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Armenia, the donation letter was signed by the U.S. Charge d'Affairs Joseph Pennington and RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian. The new equipment was bought by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. The donation includes two items of particular importance: a most modern ballistics comparison microscope and a bullet recovery system. This equipment will enable the Bureau's firearms examination unit to identify spent ammunition and test a variety of firearms. A representative of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is in Yerevan to train lab personnel. Members of Georgia's forensic laboratories arrived this week to work and train with their Armenian and American colleagues. Total U.S. government assistance to the National Bureau of Expertise now exceeds $630,000. In addition to the equipment donated today, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section funded the renovation of one of the laboratory's buildings, arranged for training for Bureau personnel in Armenia and abroad, as well as funded various visits by an American Forensics Advisor to Armenia.

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