New reference laboratories opened in Armenia’s capital

The opening ceremony for a reference laboratory of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Armenia’s Ministry of Health, and reference laboratories of the State Food Safety Inspectorate of Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture has been held in the Avan neighborhood of Yerevan.

The laboratories have been opened with the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA).

Attending the opening ceremony were Armenia’s Minister of Defense Artur Muradyan, Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills and Dr. S. Elizabeth George, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

In his opening speech, Minister Armen Muradyan thanked the US Government and highlighted availability of laboratories in Armenia.

Mr Karapetyan said that the new laboratories have made a dream come true.

“For years our desire has been to have laboratories that would meet international veterinary standards. And it is a reality now and it is no coincidence that the two laboratories are next to each other because human health is linked to animals’ health,” the minister said.

US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills said that the laboratories are the result of cooperation between the Armenian and US governments to protect Armenia and the region from pathogens.

Regional laboratories are expected to be constructed due to this bilateral cooperation, which will be in contact with the center. Moreover, one regional laboratory will be opened on Wednesday.

Dr. S. Elizabeth George said that the US Government invested a total of US $4.1m in the laboratories for Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture and US $9.8m in the laboratories for Armenia’s Ministry of Health.

This is a strong basis for long-term cooperation.