CTAG MEETING HELD IN ARMENIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000284

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, S/CT, INL, NP/ECS for JACHURLEY,
NP/ECC for TGROEN, OSD FOR PWATSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PREL PTER
SUBJECT: CTAG MEETING HELD IN ARMENIA

REF: STATE 14279


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified, please protect
accordingly.

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SUMMARY
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2. (SBU) Post convened a coordination meeting of the
Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) in Armenia
February 2 in advance of the capital-level CTAG meeting
to be held February 20 per reftel. Representatives of
CTAG embassies present in Armenia (France, Germany,
Italy, Russia, and the United Kingdom),and
representatives of the Government of Armenia attended
the coordination meeting. Each CTAG member identified
his embassy's respective counter-terrorism related
assistance, and discussed with GOAM officials potential
areas of future cooperation. Counter-terrorism
assistance to Armenia, apart from U.S.- funded training
and Export and Border Security programs and Russian
assistance within the framework of Commonwealth of
Independent States, remains limited. GOAM officials
highlighted the importance of continued training
programs, and supported further cooperation in several
areas, including equipment donations, increased
intelligence sharing, assistance in preventing a
scientific "brain-drain", and the strengthening of
Armenian regulatory agencies. End summary.

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OVERVIEW OF G-8 ASSISTANCE
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3. (SBU) The United States and Russia maintain the
largest counter-terrorism (CT) assistance programs to
Armenia. Other CTAG states have limited their CT-
related support to security assistance at Zvartnots
International Airport in Yerevan, and military training
within the NATO Partnership for Peace framework.
Following is the current CT support provided by CTAG
members to Armenia:

France
- France has a small program at Zvartnots International
Airport it began in 2003 to combat the use of
fraudulent travel documents.

Germany
- Germany has a cooperative program with Russian Border
Guards and Armenian Passport Control (OVIR) at
Zvartnots International Airport to combat fraudulent
travel documents.

- Germany maintains joint military cooperation programs
with the Armenian Ministry of Defense to train the
Armenian peace-keeping detachment. The program has a
limited CT-training component.

Italy
- An Italian Embassy representative reported that they
have no current CT-related assistance programs.

Russia
- Russia has an extensive CT partnership with Armenian
within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS). Russia and Armenia participate in
intelligence sharing and joint military and law
enforcement training programs through the CIS anti-
terrorism center.

- Russian and Armenian authorities routinely hold bi-
lateral meetings to discuss joint CT initiatives.

- Russia and Armenia cooperate on border security
initiatives. Russian Border Guards patrol Armenia's
borders with Turkey and Iran. Armenian and Russian
Border Guards seek increased inter-operability.

- Russia donates and sells large amounts of military
and law enforcement equipment to Armenia for CT
efforts.

United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom has no current CT-related
assistance programs in Armenia.

United States
- RSO reported that Armenia became a participant in the
Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Anti-Terrorism
Assistance Programs in April 2002. Under these
programs, the State Department has provided CT-
training to approximately 250 Armenian law enforcement
officials of the National Police and National Security
Service.

- The EXBS Program Advisor reported that approximately
USD 1.3 million in CT related assistance programs in

2004. EXBS reported extensive cooperation with the
Armenian National Security Service, Border Guard
Service, Customs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Emergency Management Service, and Nuclear Regulatory
Agency to enhance border security and anti-
proliferation efforts. EXBS has coordinated large
equipment donations, including radios, ground sensors,
generators and vehicles, to promote these efforts
directed primarily at points of entry into Armenia.
EXBS hopes to expand its training programs to include
Russian Border Guards in the coming year.

- DAO reported that the United States and Armenia have
developed increased military cooperation in the past
two years. The United States provides military
assistance programs primarily focused on developing an
Armenian peace-keeping unit. Some military training
has a limited CT-related component.

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GOAM IDENTIFIES AREAS FOR POTENTIAL ASSISTANCE
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4. (SBU) GOAM representatives from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, National Security
Service, Border Guard Service, and National Police
attended the coordination meeting. The GOAM officials
expressed gratitude for the CT assistance CTAG members
had provided to date, and hoped for increased future
cooperation. Arman Israelyan, Head of the MFA's Global
Security Division, outlined potential areas of future
CT assistance to the GOAM:

- Further CT training programs that support GOAM
efforts to develop a coordinated response to terrorist
incidents among agencies.

- Provision of equipment to promote GOAM CT efforts.

- Increased intelligence sharing and coordination.

- Assistance in preventing a continued 'brain-drain' of
Armenian scientists, particularly those who worked in
the Soviet weapons of mass destruction research and
development sector.

- Help in strengthening Armenian regulatory agencies,
particularly those involving nuclear power and export
control.

- Assistance to GOAM bodies in developing effective CT
legislation and implementation measures.


5. (SBU) CTAG members agreed to meet in several months
to discuss new initiatives and further plans for CT
cooperation.

ORDWAY