Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05YEREVAN1596
2005-09-02 12:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

TFUS01: ARMENIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE

Tags:  PREL ECON AEMR ASEC AMGT AM 
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UNCLAS YEREVAN 001596 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR HURRICANE TASK FORCE, EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON AEMR ASEC AMGT AM
SUBJECT: TFUS01: ARMENIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE

REF: STATE 162226

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001596

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR HURRICANE TASK FORCE, EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON AEMR ASEC AMGT AM
SUBJECT: TFUS01: ARMENIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE

REF: STATE 162226


1. (U) The Republic of Armenia has offered to send as many as
thirty trained rescue workers to the U.S. at its own expense
to assist in search and rescue operations in New Orleans.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) President Kocharian's Chief of Staff called
Ambassador the afternoon of September 2 to make the offer on
behalf of President Kocharian. His call was followed by one
from the head of the Armenian equivalent of FEMA,
Major-General Eduard Barseghyan. Barseghyan passed the phone
to COL Sergey Nikolayevich Azaryan, who provided the
following details of what they have available:

-- up to thirty trained rescuers who have participated in
international competitions and in rescue operations in
Turkey, Iran and Georgia (earthquakes in the first two cases,
floods in Georgia);

-- the rescue personnel are fully equipped for all kinds of
operations, including diving, life-saving and removing people
from buildings. They can operate watercraft;

-- five of the thirty personnel are English speakers, one
fluent, the other four passable;

-- they have a doctor of their own.


3. (SBU) Ambassador thanked the officials for their offer and
promised to convey it without delay to Washington, explaining
that a task force had been set up to match needs with
capabilities, and that the task force would have to consider
the offer. Contact numbers were exchanged. Main duty number
of the Armenan Emergency Management Agency is (374-10)
53-87-75, but because of the language barrier, we suggest
that any communications be routed through the Embassy.
Embassy duty officer is Ed Schack (INL). Russian speakers
currently at post include the Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief
Cynthia Doell.
EVANS