“Besides the Foreign Military Financing Program from the US, which was halted in 2004, the overall assistance has in reality increased,” spokesperson of NA, Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri, told myrepublica.com on Tuesday. He added, “We are now receiving support worth $800,000 under FMFP also for this year.” [break]
The amount under FMFP will go towards purchasing disaster and humanitarian-related equipment like tents, boats, ropes and headgear.
Refuting some media reports that have appeared lately, Chhetri said the assistance has actually been on an “increasing trend.”
Besides, NA received an increment from $800,000 to $900,000 for the year 2010 under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.
The US government has also provided support worth $3 million towards transport facilities for two NA contingents deployed with UNAMID, Darfur in Sudan. “The process of acquiring support for transport for our two contingents in Darfur is now completed,” Chhetri informed.
Similarly, US support under GPOI (Global Peace Operations Initiative) for NA´s capacity-building under peace initiative has now reached $1 million this year from approximately $400,000-500,000 last year. NA is also receiving another $1 million in support under a miscellaneous head for training programs at institutions like Asia-Pacific Security Studies, Hawaii, Center for Civil-Military Relations, California, Near East South Asia Center, Washington DC, and some others.
There is also a $1million fund for conducting workshops, trainings, exchange of experts and similar other joint initiatives inside Nepal. “This is unconditional support from the US for system and experience sharing,” Chhetri said.
As per a NA source, army chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung was apprised of the US decision on increment for this year, at a meeting between the general and the charge d´affaires and the defense attaché of the American embassy last week.
The source also said that “major support” is expected from the UK at the end of the UK army chief´s Nepal visit.
UK army chief General David Richards, who met Defense Minister Bidya Devi Bhandari Tuesday, assured her that a taskforce would be sent soon to decide on additional assistance for the NA. NA chief Gen. Gurung is scheduled to hold talks with Gen. Richards Tuesday evening.
The source added that besides the first phase of non-lethal supply from India, “assurances have been given from the Indian side” on the supply of both lethal and non-lethal supplies “soon”. The assistance from India came after Gurung´s visit to that country.
The NA a few days ago also received heavy equipment like rollers and excavators from China to the tune of 10 million yuan.
akanshya@myrepublica.com
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