Uzbekistan Officials Come to NH for Dialogue on Emergency Planning
By Erika Mantz, Media Relations
March 26, 2008
While the United States is making significant efforts to plant the seeds of
democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan and other former authoritarian regimes in far
away places, a separate but parallel nation strengthening effort is taking
place in New Hampshire with the Republic of Uzbekistan.
From March 22-29, 2008, under a program called Partners for Peace - New Hampshire
2008, a delegation of 12 civil and military leaders from Uzbekistan will participate
in a democracy education initiative and workshops throughout the state. Heading
up the Uzbekistan delegation is R.D. Khodjaev, lead inspector of the National
Security Council for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The topic
of discussion is emergency planning and response in the event of a natural
disaster, according to program organizer George Bruno, managing director of
USA Group International, a Manchester based international consulting company.
The program is a joint undertaking by UNH, the N.H. National Guard, and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to demonstrate to leaders of countries in transition
to democracy New Hampshire's unique approach of how government, non-profit
organizations and the private sector respond and cooperate in the event of
a hurricane, flood, forest fire or other sudden natural emergencies. “The
rapid and professional response to flooding in New Hampshire provides good
material for the workshops,” said Bruno.
Uzbekistan was part of the former Soviet Union and became independent in 1991.
“It is a democracy strengthening program,” said program sponsor
Ted Howard, co-director of UNH-Partners for Peace and professor at UNH, “and
we are grateful for the leaders and organizations throughout the state who
have volunteered to be part of the program.” The workshop portions will
be conducted at the campuses of UNH in Durham and Manchester and will include
presentations about UNH emergency procedures.
The delegation will also observe the NH General Court in action, be briefed
on New Hampshire’s emergency response plans by state officials and leaders
of the N.H. National Guard, meet with Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, speak
to local firefighters, consult with UNH experts, and walk parts of the Freedom
Trail in Boston. A visit to a Manchester Monarch's game is also slated, courtesy
of KeySpan.
The program, conducted in Russian and English, is now in its seventh year
with prior delegations coming from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan,
Latvia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. For more information contact George
Bruno at (603) 296-2222 or Ted Howard at 2-2700.
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