ARMENIA SIGNS ON TO DEFENSE ASSESSMENT:

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001749 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM AM SUBJECT: ARMENIA SIGNS ON TO DEFENSE ASSESSMENT: LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO EUCOM COMMANDER ¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please treat accordingly. -------------- -- MINISTER OF DEFENSE REQUESTS DEFENSE ASSESSMENT -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) Armenia formally requested a Defense Assessment in the following letter from the Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsian that his staff transmitted to the Embassy August 6. The English-language text of the letter from the Minister of Defense follows. Begin Text: August 5, 2004 To General James L. Jones Commander of the United States European Command Dear Mr. General, Let me inform you that the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia expresses its willingness to conduct Defense Assessment by Pentagon in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. The Ministry of Defense proposes to conduct the assessment in the fields of communication, Air defense, NBC protection, military medicine, military education, operational and combat readiness, as well as in combat and training units. Taking into account that one of the primary areas of Armenian-American cooperation is peacekeeping, and Armenian side wishes to enlarge his capabilities in the mentioned area, therefore it is desirable to conduct Defense Assessment in the fields of Peacekeeping and Special Forces readiness. It is expedient to make a subject for assessment also the legislative field according to which the management and manning of the Armed Forces is realized both in peacetime, wartime and in crisis situations. At the same time I would like to note that according to the assessment standards that you have presented, the capabilities of the Armed Forces of RA relating to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and guaranteeing the existing military balance between the sides may not undergo assessment as far as the conflict still remains unsettled. I am hopeful that as a result of defense assessment the expected recommendations and assessment marks from American side will contribute to the gradual reforms in the Armed Forces of Armenia and will spur further enlargement and enhancement of Armenia- United States cooperation. Respectfully, /s/ Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsian End Text. GODFREY