Comrade Jacinda was just an amateur by comparison.

https://twitter.com/karma44921039/status/1905911378633777506

For once, it’s been a great week for taxpayers! News that the Government is finally getting on top of the Ardern/Hipkins-created “consultant gravy train” is welcome, as are the details for what amounts to the most important thing the Luxon-led Government is likely to do to improve New Zealand’s long term prosperity.

Plus, thanks to a very talented Taxpayers’ Union student intern, we have an exclusive for supporters of the Taxpayers’ Union: we’ve been leaked a recording of Christopher Luxon’s recent call with President Donald Trump, where The Donald gives a lesson on growth… 

$800 Million Saved: Crusher Collins Crushes Wellington Consultant Gravy Train 

As Minister for the Public Service under Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins grew the core public service (i.e. back-office bureaucrats) so much that by 2023, salary costs were up by 72 percent in six years!

But that surge doesn’t count what’s made the Wellington partners of KPMG, Deloitte, PwC etc, very well off indeed: a boom in the so-called “cling-on bureaucracy” of consultants.

Now the new Minister, Judith Collins is crushing it, with the Beehive announcing this week:

The Government’s move to cut public sector spending on consultants and contractors is on track to save $800 million over two years – double the initial target, Public Service Minister Judith Collins says.

“We set a two-year target to cut $400 million in spending on consultants and contractors across the public sector by 2024/25,” Ms Collins says.

“The latest update anticipates savings will come in at more than $800 million by the end of June. [continue reading here]

$800 million amounts to $398 for every New Zealand household. Bravo Judith! 

Scrapping the RMA: The Biggest (Regulatory) Tax Cut in Our Lifetime? 

Time and time again, the economic gurus tell us that the biggest handbrake on growth – and therefore New Zealand’s long term economic prosperity – is the Resource Management Act.

The RMA is the cause of New Zealand’s housing crisis. It blocks (or, at best, seriously hikes the costs of) building infrastructure, it stifles growth, and it makes us all poorer.

So the Taxpayers’ Union has always argued that scrapping the RMA isn’t just mission critical. It is the litmus test of whether the political elite are serious about New Zealand ever getting back into the top half of the OECD for what we produce per capita.

Labour’s David Parker tried to scrap the RMA but failed. Parker’s Three Waters-style co-governed, anti-democratic ‘Central Planning Committees’ regime would have made things even worse! (It was so bad, in fact, that we spent a month on the road to raise awareness).

So, the Government’s bolder initiative to Go for Growth and deliver planning laws based on property rights should be more than welcomed. And so far, we like what we see:

• Property rights will be front and centre — if your land use doesn’t harm others, you can get on with it.
• Standardised zoning rules will replace the tangled mess of 1,000+ local variations.
• Red tape will be slashed, with up to 45 percent lower compliance costs

According to National’s Chris Bishop and ACT’s Simon Court, the reforms are all about returning decision-making back where it belongs: with property owners.

That means minimising potential interference by busybody activists, politicians and clipboard-wielding council officials except where there is a genuine impact on neighbouring property owners (what economists call externalities).

Chris Bishop cites a consultant’s report (ironic, we know, given above) which estimates his alternative will deliver a 45 percent improvement in administrative and compliance costs when compared to the current system.

But there’s a looooong way to go yet… 

No changes will kick in until 2027 – and there’s still a lot that could go wrong between now and the actual laws being drafted, consulted on, and passed through Parliament. Chris Bishop says his target is to get it done before next year’s election.

But already, the vested interests who thrive on the bureaucratic kumbaya approach of the RMA are out there in the media complaining. A perfect example: Government’s RMA reforms an ‘open attack on Māoridom’ (Stuff.co.nz).

To our astonishment, despite being arguably the most important work stream by the Government, 1News didn’t even bother to mention the announcement on Monday’s six o’clock bulletin.  So if you’re interested in a deep dive into the detail (or don’t trust how the media is reporting on it), head over to the Beehive’s news item (in particular, see the “Factsheet” listed under “Related Documents”).

So, let’s ensure that the Government holds firm, and we hope that this announcement reflects a willingness for the Government to be bolder in “Going for Growth”. 

(EXCLUSIVE) LEAKED CALL: President Trump’s Advice to Chris Luxon on how to ‘Go for Growth’

 

Speaking of Going for Growth, we’ve published an exclusive recording of one of our scarily talented student interns President Trump’s recent call with Prime Minister Luxon. 

In it, The Donald tells Luxon how he should kickstart New Zealand’s economy (and I can 100 percent assure you Geoffrey, no AI was used for this recording).

Listen to the leaked recording here

Bang for buck, the best possible tax cut: Full Capital Expensing 

In case you missed our Briefing Paper on Full Capital Expensing, head over to our website. 

It’s the best tax idea for the Government to Go for Growth, but most people haven’t heard of it. It lets businesses write off capital investments (the very things that will make New Zealand more productive) instead of drip-feeding depreciation deductions over many years.

Full Capital Expensing = more investment = higher productivity = faster growth = higher wages.

It worked in the US and Britain, and we break it down here.

Health officials lobby against…slides and sandwich boards? 

Public health officials have been called out by the new Health Minister for lobbying: it turns out money meant for health services is being used to employ the fun police.

Instead of tackling public health, officials have been submitting against lawful developments that have nothing to do with public health. Public Health officers have been spending taxpayer money (meant for the health service) lobbying against:

• A Mitre 10 in Petone (because it had too many car parks)
  
• Extremely hazardous, err, Sandwich boards outside Nelson bakeries
  
• A McDonald’s drive-thru in Wānaka, because… “planetary health” (yes, seriously!)
  
• School charity raffles in case they lead to a life of high-stakes gambling
  
• A children’s playground in Lower Hutt (kids playing outdoors is far too risky, apparently)
  
• And even housing developments, because they might “block mountain views”

Every dollar spent nitpicking is taken away from actual healthcare.

So, a round of applause to Minister Chris Bishop for calling it out — and even bigger props to Health Minister Simeon Brown for finally putting a stop to it. 

Predictably, the poor do-gooders taxpayer-funded lobbyists managed to find a Stuff journalist to complain: ‘It’s censorship’: Public health leaders slam ‘Trumpian’ edict (Stuff.co.nz).

We say a Ministerial instruction to bureaucrats to stop using taxpayer money to lobby for things that most taxpayers would not agree is far from ‘censorship’. And (regardless of your views on Trump!) surely these taxpayer-funded lobbyists are a lost cause when they have to resort to ‘Trumpian’ name calling of Minister of Health Simeon Brown.

PETITION: Support equal voting rights in Local Government  

Last week, National MP Sam Uffindell introduced a Bill to give everybody equal voting rights in local elections.

The Bill extends the equal voting protections for Parliamentary elections in the Bill of Rights Act to local elections—common sense, right?

Right now, different votes can count for different amounts – whether directly through rural or Māori wards or indirectly, thanks to unelected appointees with voting rights. This Bill doesn’t fix the problem of unelected members being appointed to local council, but it’s a big step towards ‘unscrewing the scrum’.

Equality of suffrage is seen as bad by Radio NZ 

Incredible, New Zealand’s very own Pravda – the fully taxpayer funded Radio NZ news service labeled equal voting rights a ‘step backwards’

As highlighted by Taxpayers’ Union Cofounder, David Farrar, over on Kiwiblog:

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell has a simple proposed members’ bill to amend the Bill of Rights Act to have equal suffrage extend to local government.

Equal suffrage is a fundamental human right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says:

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also states:

To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors.

So equal suffrage is a fundamental human right, included in both major global human rights declarations. It is also in the NZ Bill of Rights Act:

has the right to vote in genuine periodic elections of members of the House of Representatives, which elections shall be by equal suffrage and by secret ballot

So our law already states that equal suffrage applies to national elections. Uffindell’s bill would change NZ BORA so it reads:

Every New Zealand citizen who is of or over the age of 18 years has the right to vote in genuine periodic elections by equal suffrage and secret ballot of members of the House of Representatives; and members of local authorities.

So a very simple law change that enhances human rights in New Zealand. So how does Radio NZ report on this proposed bill. Well in this article they quote two opponents of the bill as a “backward step”, and doesn’t go to a single person (apart from the MP proposing it) supporting it for comment.

Remind me why we fund RNZ again? Because if it’s objective or trusted news, taxpayers should be demanding their money back!

Unlike Radio NZ, we think this Bill is a good one, but say it should go further and ban unelected appointees from having voting powers at Council as well.

If you have 30 seconds, please back us and sign our petition calling for equal voting rights in local elections.

>> SIGN THE PETITION 

ACC’s latest $243,000 is a pain in the backside

 

And in a slightly less serious vein (brought to us by an Official Information Act request thought up by yet another creative intern), the team this week exposed the amount ACC is spending on, well…

ACC shelled out more than $125,000 last year for injuries involving foreign objects lodged where the sun don’t shine – that’s more than double the previous year. And with $117,799 already spent this financial year, 2024/25 is shaping up to be a record-breaker a real pain in the [redacted]. 

Auckland topped the list for ‘rear-end mishaps’, with Wellington, Southland, and Otago bringing up the errr rear. 

But with ACC levies on the rise, and the organisation facing long-term fiscal headwinds, it’s hardworking New Zealanders who are the butt of this joke. Ouch.

Wellington City Council’s $22,000 Hikoi ‘flush-fund’ 

Our investigations team have caught Wellington City Council spending $21,702 of ratepayer money on portaloos for the Toitū Te Tiriti Hīkoi protest—despite never funding toilets for any other protest or having a policy to do so.

The Council admitted this was a one-off exception, not part of any established process. Every other protest pays for its own loos, so why were ratepayers forced to cover the bill for a cause council officials happen to support?

With an 18.5% rates hike already hitting Wellingtonians, the portaloos aren’t the only thing that stinks here – especially when it’s public facilities/services that only appear when it’s a protest the Mayor’s own Green Party sides with.

Other news in brief 

• Last week, we made our submission on Media Reform: Modernising regulation and content funding arrangements for New Zealand. Read our submission here. 
• The New Zealand Defence Force has announced 374 civilian job cuts 
• GDP-per-capita grew 0.4 percent, the first growth in more than two years 
• Western Bay of Plenty District Council the latest to leave Local Government New Zealand 
• 
• The Ombudsman has called for Chief Execs to be personally liable for OIA failures 
• Auckland City Councillors have been handed 150 free tickets by the owners of a stadium whose future they voted on this Thursday   Our sister group, the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, is rightly calling it out.

Jordan Williams Executive Director New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

from Niccola Willis, Minister of Finance

Today, I am pleased to share the next steps in our Government’s mission to drive down the cost of groceries for Kiwi families. We know that the cost of living remains a major concern, and we are committed to making real changes that will benefit New Zealanders now and into the future.

The current situation
New Zealand’s grocery prices remain among the highest globally, with our market dominated by two major players – Foodstuffs and Woolworths – who hold substantial power. The simple reality is this: The last Government’s reforms have not improved grocery competition or delivered better prices for Kiwi supermarket shoppers.

Our response
To address this, Cabinet has agreed to initiate a Request for Information (RFI) process to explore what it would take for a new national-scale grocery retailer to enter the market or for existing competitors to expand. This will help identify the barriers that need to be removed.

We will engage with potential entrants such as Costco, The Warehouse, and international retailers like Coles and Aldi, alongside investment groups, iwi organizations, and the existing major players to gather insights and solutions.

Exploring Further Reforms
Encouraging a new competitor is important, but we may need to take stronger action. I have also sought expert advice on ways in which the existing supermarket duopoly could be restructured to improve competition. This includes advice on options for the ‘de-merger’ of existing brands, the potential impacts of structural separation on existing entities, and concepts for how this could be achieved.

What comes next
The RFI process will move swiftly over the next six weeks, gathering crucial information on how best to drive increased competition. In mid-2025, I will present further recommendations to Cabinet, and if legislative action is required, I intend to introduce and pass necessary reforms within this parliamentary term.

This is big task, but we need to get it right.

We are determined to see real competition in our grocery sector and deliver the fairer prices that Kiwis deserve, so you can keep more money in your back pocket.

by Wally Richards

MARCH GARDEN PROBLEMS

Stress in plants is very similar to stress in people: when we are under stress our immune systems are weakened, we are more likely to catch colds and have other health issues.

Stress in humans comes with side effects, such as b eing unable to obtain a good night’s sleep, rushed meals or fast foods and the digestive system does not operate as well as it could; our body functions are under pressure.

 Thus our original stress condition is compounded with the resulting side effects.

Similarly when a plant comes into stress at this time of the year because of the hot dry conditions, it is also weakened, attracting pests and diseases, who’s job in nature is to assist in taking the weak plants out.

The plant goes into reproductive mode, flowering profusely and setting seeds.

As the plant’s life is threatened, it just wants to produce offspring and most, if not all its resources go into this. (In dry times you might see weeds a few centimeters tall flowering and going to seed because they are protecting their DNA.)

To make matters even worse, the soil life, including the worms, will have insufficient moisture so they disappear and reduce further the plant’s ability to take in nutrients and moisture.

Sap sucking insects compound the problem and diseases such as black spot, rust and mildews run wild.

To illustrate a point, a few years ago I had two areas of garden with silver beet growing, one right down the back, fenced off from the free ranging chooks, which was planted up in late spring. The area is very dry with a heavy clay soil and a number of established trees which also suck most of the available nutrients and moisture out of the soil.

It was not a good gardening area. I did not water as much as I should have done, and the silver beet was poor looking with rust problems and going to seed.

In the other area I had a raised bed with ample compost and animal manures in it. This area was planted with silver beet seedlings in mid-January and each night I would give the bed a nice drink of filtered water (non-chlorinated) with a handheld hose.

Here the silver beet was lush and already ready to harvest the outer leaves.

No rust, just happy plants that have no stress problems. Worms were active which told me that all the soil life was also. Better growing medium and a little watering daily is all that was needed to keep it right.

A gardener told me a long time ago that a good cure for rust is a solution of potassium permanganate dissolved in water to make a mild concoction, then sprayed over affected plants, with repeats as needed. I have mentioned many times that simple cheap remedy for plant leaf diseases: a quarter of a teaspoon to 1 litre of water (we supply the 2.5ml spoon with the jar of Wallys potassium permanganate.)

We mentioned another cheap remedy some time ago about the problem of dry spot on lawns.

This occurs when the soil becomes too dry and will not accept water. To break the surface tension, you simply fill a watering can with warm water and squirt some dish washing liquid into the water. Give the water a stir to make it soapy and water onto the dry spots or areas. This breaks the surface tension and water can then penetrate. The same principle can be applied to gardens that have become too dry.

It is a good idea to do this about now so that when the autumn rains come the rainwater will penetrate into the soil better.

Once you have treated with the soapy water you can then use standard water and the water will soak into the soil. You do not need to supply a lot of water, instead a little water every day in either the later afternoon or early morning will do nicely. If powdery mildew is a problem, then it is better to water in the morning.

To help the control of powdery mildew simply take a heaped tablespoon of baking soda, add to 1 litre of water with a mil of Raingard and spray.

If powdery mildew is already on leaves then Spray with Wallys Super Neem Tree Oil.

I prefer to water by hand as at the same time I can then check plants for insect pests and any diseases that might be starting up and take the appropriate action to control.

It also allows me to pull out any young weeds and pick ripening fruit before the birds start pecking them. I will often come back inside with a couple of pockets full of near ripe tomatoes to go into a bowl and finish ripening.

Leaf hoppers are into many plants at this time of the year and a few nights ago I noticed a number of them on a Brugmansia I have growing in a container, so it was out with the Wallys Super Pyrethrum and a good spraying of the plant along with other plants in the area done late in the day.

Next night there was not a hopper to be seen and only the odd one has turned up since. Another spray a week or so later should be in order. For bad infestations a number of sprays may be required for a few weeks especially if they are re-infesting from other plants or from over the fence.

White butterflies are flitting around my gardens so all the cabbages and brassicas along with the tomato plants have been given a spray of Super Pyrethrum just before dusk which helps keep the caterpillars under control.

Spider mites are another pest insect that can run amok on plants at this time and a spray of wettable Sulphur powder will stop them in their tracks (do not use with other sprays including Neem tree Oil).

Lawns that have built up a layer of thatch on the soil surface can now be treated with Thatch Busta, best applied with a lawn boy for good coverage.

After application, lightly water the lawn every day to keep the thatch moist with non chlorinated water ideally.

If you are using a lawn weed killer on your lawn then you can add Thatch Busta to the mix and the dying weeds will disappear a lot quicker.

Once the lawns start to moisten up with the autumn rains you can lift some turf and inspect the soil for grass grubs and porina.

If you find a number of them close to the surface then it is the right time to kill them before they damage your lawn. Treat the lawn with Wallys Neem Powder in areas where they are to clean them up.

Two tips I learnt this week. One is soak onion skins or roughly chopped spring onions in a bucket of water. Take the water and spray over plants that snails are eating. Snail don’t attack onion plants so the onion water helps keep them off other plants. Repeat after rain.

Then you take the onion skin peelings and dry them in a low temperature oven. When dry put the brittle skins into a kitchen wiz and zap them into onion powder; it’s better than the stuff you buy.

Another tip is take the Calcium Hydroxide we talked about last week and make a slurry with it by adding a little water. You now have whitewash which you paint onto trunks of your trees in the orchard.

This is an ancient technique which creates a barrier against climbing insects, reflects harsh sunlight to prevent winter damage and naturally fights fungus diseases. It will seal and wounds in one application.

Organic protection at its finest.

Phone 0800 466464
Garden Pages and News at www.gardenews.co.nz
Shar Pei pages at  www.sharpei.co.nz
Mail Order products at www.0800466464.co.nz

The announcement was made last Wednesday evening at CALM’s public meeting in Southwards. At present there are 3 confirmed candidates including Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti chair Chris Harwood, all of whom spoke briefly about themselves and why they are standing; go to the website linked below for the video.

Website: www.welovekapiti.co.nz

At present two committee members of Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti are also on the committee of Calm Alarmist Law Madness — website www.kapiticalm.com

The colour chosen of teal fits with the use of it by what are called’ Teal Independents’ in Australia who in the last Federal election gained some seats in the lower house.

There is pretty much a common platform with ACT, but We Love Kapiti wants to be separate from national level political parties.

The design is similar to the elaborate and expensive one installed on the Waikanae River bridge last year but isn’t the same. It seems like it has taken 7½ months, based on this article which announced the start of work in August last year. Well, the Otaki River is wider so this bridge is longer, but even so, 7 months seems quite excessive. It also cost a lot more: $6 million according to an Official Information response!

Unlike the Waikanae one, this Otaki clip-on was paid for by the NZTA. That may be because despite the ‘Ewy’ not far to the east, the NZTA are still treating the bridge as part of SH1?

by Valeriy Krylko

In recent years, Armenia’s medical and sanitary-veterinary centers have been actively involved in U.S.-funded projects of international scientific and technical cooperation under the scheme previously implemented by the U.S. side in Georgia and Ukraine. Currently, a network of biological laboratories funded and managed by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is deployed in Armenia. 

The transfer by the United States of its projects to the territory of Armenia is natural: logistical peculiarities, political instability and military conflicts make this region a convenient testing ground for non-transparent experiments. Officially, U.S.-funded laboratories are engaged in implementing measures to combat pathogenic diseases, but independent experts warn of the dual purpose of such programs – the technologies used can serve both to create medical stimulants and to develop biological weapons.

   [Source: livenews.am]  Map of biological laboratories on the territory of Armenia

Map of Biological Laboratories in Armenia In fact, U.S.-funded laboratories in Armenia have extraterritorial status, which makes them beyond the control of national legislation. They are like military bases without tanks, but with test tubes and pathogens. This status allows the biocenters to function under conditions of minimal control and outside the legal framework of Armenia, and their employees cannot be prosecuted within the framework of local legislation. Under these conditions, research that pleases U.S. sponsors is conducted that would be prohibited in the U.S. or countries with stricter legal norms.

The projects being implemented involve American scientific institutions and corporations such as Battelle Memorial Institute (security technology, chemical engineering and biology), Southern Research Institute (medical drug development and genetic engineering), Monsanto (biotechnology and genetic engineering) and Pioneer Hi-Bred International (biotechnology and genetically modified objects).

An interesting fact is the participation of BlackRock, the world’s largest investment company, in the biotechnology corporations Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Although there is no direct evidence of BlackRock’s connection to the financing of laboratories in Armenia, its indirect influence through Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred International raises questions. 

BlackRock also has close ties with the administration of former US President Joe Biden. Several former top managers of BlackRock held key positions in the previous cabinet: Brian Deese was the director of the US National Economic Council, Mike Pyle was the chief economic advisor to former US Vice President Kamala Harris, and Wally Adeyemo served as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.

The transfer to Armenia of projects and organizations that previously operated in Georgia and Ukraine testifies to the devaluation of the subjectivity of Armenian politics. The country is turning into a new testing ground for dubious experiments. This leads to another conclusion: all this is a harbinger of a major war on the territory of Armenia, since the presence of American military-medical and commercial organizations not only requires the reduction of civil liberties in this Transcaucasian state, but also uses openly forbidden practices that can be effectively hidden in the fog of war. 

Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in DTRA activity on the territory of Armenia, where the American side organizes various events: conferences, seminars and educational trainings for Armenian specialists, ostensibly aimed at reducing biological threats and improving measures to combat weapons of mass destruction technologies. 

Thus, in September 2021, the above-mentioned U.S. military department jointly with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia organized a seminar within the framework of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Security Cooperation Program (CSCEP). The DTRA workshop was held for leaders and representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Defense, National Security Service, Food Safety Inspection Board (FSIB), Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency, and national police units. 

The seminar was attended by U.S. Department of Defense Attaché Colonel Pipes, U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency Chief of Staff in Yerevan Lieutenant Colonel Shields, and Bilateral Affairs Officer Lieutenant Colonel Hayes. This event opened a series of trainings and seminars led by DTRA for Armenian specialists in chemistry, biology, radiology, and nuclear physics from 2022-2025.

   [Source: am.usembassy.gov]  Executive Seminar on Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction in Armenia

On December 6-7, 2023, DTRA held the 2nd Workshop on cross-border cooperation between Armenia and Georgia on Virology and Microbiology in Yerevan. The event was attended by key Armenian figures from the Ministry of Economy and the Food Safety Inspection Body (FSIB), as well as their counterparts from the National Food Agency of Georgia and the State Laboratory of Agriculture of Georgia. The meeting participants visited the Republican Veterinary, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Center of FSIB Laboratory Services. 

   [Source: am.usembassy.gov]  Defense Threat Reduction Agency supported Workshop on Cross Border Cooperation Between Armenia and Georgia

This cooperation continued in 2024. The United States, represented by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), within the framework of the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP), has been actively engaged in the implementation of a large number of military-biological projects on the territory of Armenia, for which the U.S. Defense Ministry has allocated a fabulous amount of more than 206 million U.S. dollars over the past few years.

In early May 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Christine Quinn, on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, and Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, signed an agreement on the extension of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia on Cooperation in Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Spheres (CBRN – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Agreement).

   [Source: am.usembassy.gov] An Agreement on Extension of the Umbrella Agreement

This Agreement, which extends until November 2030, is the basis for cooperation in the biological sphere between the two countries. During the signing of the mentioned document, the Armenian Minister of Defense noted that the Government of the United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), has provided invaluable support to the Republic of Armenia by providing expertise, materials and technical assistance worth more than 130 million USD, which made DTRA one of the main donors to Armenia.

Within the framework of the extended Agreement and the DTRA projects implemented by the American side, exercises on combating biological weapons of mass destruction were organized in Yerevan at the end of May 2024. More than 60 specialists from various ministries and state institutions of Armenia participated in this event.

   [Source: am.usembassy.gov]  Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Supports Armenia’s Security Through CWMD Table-Top Exercise in Yerevan

In recent years, the U.S. military department’s interest in biological projects in Armenia has only increased, and experts expect the number of activities to increase dramatically in the future.

[Source: dvidshub.net]  DTRA conference video materials

During the period from September 19-24, 2024 in Armenia, DTRA employees conducted field exercises on countering weapons of mass destruction in a number of regions of Armenia. Although the declared objectives were to develop cooperation with the Armenian government, identify gaps and train local personnel, the U.S. side actually analyzed the logistical support of Armenian specialists and the completeness and speed of response to various negative consequences of biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction. The mentioned exercises consisted of several scenarios touching upon all aspects of the threats of the use of weapons of mass destruction in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear spheres. In particular, U.S. Defense Department representatives studied the response of Armenia’s special services to:

• conducting a potential act of bioterrorism; 
• smuggling of radiation or nuclear components; 
• a chemical incident; 
• attempts to use certain viruses as biological weapons;
• udden death of farm animals from an unknown disease, etc.

[Source: dvidshub.net]  DTRA conference video materials

During the said exercise, Elisabeth Dufrant, DTRA International Program Manager told that “Armenia is a geopolitical chessboard between the north and the countries to the south, as well as their neighbors from east to west. We wanted to test their knowledge about biological or chemical weapons, lists of dual-use goods and other international standards that we know Armenia must abide by,” she said. “I always say to Armenians: we are not doing this to fool you or make you look foolish. We want to find weaknesses. Exercises like this allow not only the host country, but also countries that are trying to help, such as the United States, to evaluate their equipment.”. 

But the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in Armenia not only conducts seminars, trainings, conferences and exercises, but also participates in the reconstruction and modernization of bio-laboratories. In the future, such bio-centers often employ U.S. military microbiologists and virologists, as well as other specialists closely related to the U.S. military. This allows the U.S. side to conduct field clinical trials of various microorganisms and viruses on animals and, in some cases, on local residents.

The activation of military-biological programs and projects on the territory of Armenia by the U.S. military department is becoming a harbinger of a biological apocalypse, because clinical trials of viruses on civilians or animals, risks of pathogen leaks from laboratories and political destabilization in Armenia create ideal conditions for a catastrophe, the scale of which could go far beyond the region.