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