TFUS01: ARMENIAN OFFER OF MONETARY AND OTHER

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001604 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR HURRICANE TASK FORCE, EUR/CACEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC ECON PREL AM SUBJECT: TFUS01: ARMENIAN OFFER OF MONETARY AND OTHER ASSISTANCE REF: A.) YEREVAN 1596 B.) STATE 163278 C.) STATE 163366 ¶1. (SBU) In a telephone conversation with Ambassador Evans this morning, Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian, on behalf of the Armenian Government, offered USD 100,000 in cash to support Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. This follows the September 2 offer of as many as thirty trained rescue workers to assist in search and rescue operations in New Orleans (ref A). ¶2. (U) As instructed in reftels B and C, Post has conveyed (a) the USG's gratitude for the Armenian Government's two offers of assistance (i.e., a rescue team, and USD 100,000 in cash) in response to Hurricane Katrina, and (b) the list of priority needs. ¶3. (U) Please advise whether Post may proceed to accept the cash donation, in accordance with ref B. EVANS