REQUEST FOR TREATMENT OF IRAQ-WOUNDED ARMENIAN

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001677

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED INFO ADDRESSEES)

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
OSD FOR POLICY/EURASIA/AMER LATIF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS AM
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR TREATMENT OF IRAQ-WOUNDED ARMENIAN
SOLDIER AT WALTER REED


--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. Post strongly urges that the Department of Defense approve
the evacuation to Walter Reed Army Medical Center of Armenian
First Lieutenant Georgi Nalbandian, who was wounded during
his service with coalition forces in Iraq. Providing
treatment and rehabilitative care to Nalbandian in Washington
is important for both practical and political reasons. It
would send a strong positive message to the GOAM that the USG
values its contribution in Iraq, and would shore up Armenian
government and public support for maintaining and one day
increasing its troop commitment. On a practical level,
Washington is the only treatment locale proposed where
Nalbandian can receive adequate support and contact from the
Armenian government, via its Embassy and the Armenian
community in Washington. END SUMMARY.


2. Nalbandian, who lost a leg in Iraq to a November 11 IED
explosion, is the first Armenian soldier to be severely
wounded in Iraq. He is nearing the end of his treatment at
the Europe Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany.
Next, he must be fitted for a prosthesis and undergo
rehabilitation that will improve his quality of life and
allow him to continue his service in the Armenian Armed
Forces.


3. We believe the USG response to the Nalbandian case will
significantly influence Armenia's decisions regarding current
and future deployments. It also will affect what has, to
date, been a very positively developing U.S.-Armenian defense
relationship. Providing Nalbanian transportation to and
treatment at Walter Reed would send a strong signal that the
U.S. values Armenia's contribution to the coalition effort in
Iraq -- a contribution that has not been universally
supported in Armenia. A decision to continue his treatment
at Walter Reed would pay significant dividends not only to
the soldier, but to the ever-improving defense relationship
with a partner country in a volatile region.


4. We also believe it is important for Nalbandian to receive
treatment at a location with an accessible support network,
especially once he reaches the out-patient phase of his
rebahilitative care. Post understands that Nalbandian's care
will require a significant period of out-patient
rehabilitation, after he has been discharged from in-patient
hospital care. Armenia,s Defense Attach in Washington has
expressed the readiness of the Armenian Embassy to support
Nalbandian during and after his residential stay at Walter
Reed, which would be a very substantial advantage to the
lieutenant's well-being, as well as in reducing the logisticl
and administrative burden on USG agencies. The primary
burden would be on Armenian government officials to oversee
Nalbandian's physical welfare and logistical needs, which the
USG focuses on his medical needs. The Armenian Embassy would
also be able to act as the GOAM's fiscal agent in paying
Nalbandian's hotel bills and related costs, in anticipation
of eventual USG reimbursement. The presence of a sizeable
Armenian community in the Washington metro area would provide
a further suport network, contributing to Nalbanian's overall
well-being while he undergoes rehabilitation that is often
mentally taxing as well as physically demanding. We
understand that Walter Reed also offers Nalbandian the
benefit of undergoing his rehabilitation in the company of
other amputees to whom he could relate.


5. Representatives of the Armenian Ministry of Defense have
indicated--we still wait formal confirmation--that the MOD
will be prepared to pay Nalbandian's outpatient care-related
lodging and transportation costs up-front, with the
expectation of subsequent DOD reimbursement pursuant to the
2003 USD/Comptroller Zakheim Memorandum. We rely on the
Departments of State and Defense to ensure that this
understanding that the GOAM will receive full USG
reimbursement for all medical and rehabilitative care, and
associated subsistence costs, is accurate.
GODFREY