Jordan Times
Monday, October 4, 2004
US embassy provides X-ray van to support border, export security
AMMAN (JT) — The US embassy in Jordan yesterday donated an X-ray van to the Customs Department.
The Autovan CX-160V Mobile X-Ray System was
provided to the Customs Department by the US government under the Export Control
and Border Security (EXBS) Programme, funded by the US Department of State,
according to a statement released by the American embassy in Amman.
The van possesses sophisticated imaging equipment that, when employed, will
increase the capability of the customs and other government entities to examine
and intercept dangerous cargoes and contraband, particularly items related to
the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
US Charge d'Affaires David Hale, presented the van to Customs Department
Director General Mahmoud Qteishat at a ceremony held at the Amman Customs House
on Sunday.
“Advanced technology is critical to the effort to prevent the illegal trade in
hazardous cargoes related to WMD proliferation. The X-ray van ... is equipped
with sophisticated detection devices that will increase the government's ability
to ensure Jordan's trade with other countries is safe and secure,” Hale said at
the event.
The total annual value of equipment and technical assistance provided by the US
government to the Kingdom under the auspices of the EXBS programme is
approximately $1,500,000, the statement said.
The EXBS programme is a multiyear programme designed to assist Jordan and other
regional countries in strengthening their border protection capabilities to stem
the flow of contraband, especially the non-proliferation of nuclear, biological
and chemical weapons and other WMDs.
The programme has helped countries around the world improve their ability to
prevent and interdict shipments of dangerous items and technologies by providing
a wide variety of practical assistance tailored to each individual country's
needs.
The programme focuses on five core areas: Laws and regulations, licensing,
enforcement, government-industry cooperation and interagency cooperation.
The programme also takes a regional and multilateral approach to help harmonise
national export control systems with international standards and facilitate
information-sharing agreements among nations. It also organises a number of
regional fora to bring national policy makers and technical experts together.