BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON AUGUST 27 SCHOOL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 001092 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN DEPT FOR DS/IP/SCA-NEA - GALLO, DEE AND LEAZIER DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DEPT FOR DS/ITA - K. SOPPENEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2017 TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV PINR PREL KG SUBJECT: BISHKEK EAC MEETING ON AUGUST 27 SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FOR POST DEPENDENT CHILDREN Classified By: DCM Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on 27 August 2007 to discuss whether security conditions at post warrant continued use of USG assets to transport post dependent children to school. Present were the DCM, RSO, DAO, CON, MGT, PAS, POL/ECON, POL/RA, RLA, SAO, INL, GSO, AID, and MSG DET commander. ¶2. (SBU) GSO briefed the EAC regarding the guidelines in 14 FAM 418.2-3 (a) for use of official vehicles when public transportation is unsafe or not available. 14 FAM 418.2-3 (d) authorizes transportation of dependent school children to and from a U.S.-sponsored school abroad when other transportation is unavailable or inappropriate. Bishkek International School (BIS) is the U.S. sponsored school. ¶3. (C) RSO briefed the EAC regarding the security threat level for Bishkek and recommended that post dependents continue to be transported to and from school for the coming academic year. RSO also informed the EAC that both BIS and Hope Academy, the two schools where dependent children are enrolled, have received funds for improving security from the Department of State through the soft target initiative program. RSO stated that 25% of the embassy drivers have received training in attack recognition and evasive maneuvers. During times of heightened security, a local guard also travels with the vehicle when transporting dependent children to school. ¶4. (C) GSO stated that motor pool assets are sufficient to provide transportation for post dependents to both schools. Two vehicles are used in the morning and afternoon. School begins at 8:15 am and ends at 3 pm. GSO will obtain guidance from the Department regarding whether Hope Academy is considered a state sponsored school. In the event that Hope Academy is not considered a state sponsored school, the EAC consensus was that for security reasons, students at Hope Academy should nonetheless be provided GOV transportation to and from school. Not to do so would introduce a double standard, in the view of the EAC. School begins on Thursday, August 30 and Embassy Bishkek will provide transportation for children attending both schools. ¶5. (SBU) The EAC agreed that parents should notify the motor pool in the event that their child would not be using transportation on a given day. ¶6. (SBU) After discussion regarding after school activities for children, the EAC concluded that parents should assume responsibility for transportation for after school activities. ¶7. (U) For further information or clarification, contact ARSO Jared Thurman, thurmanjm@state.sgov.gov or via telephone at 011 996 312 551 241 ext. 4435. YOVANOVITCH