C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000608

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: NATO PGOV MARR PREL AM PINR AF
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR REQUESTS U.S. PREFERENCES FOR
AN ISAF CONTRIBUTION

REF: SECDEF WASHDC 241406Z OCT 07

Classified By: Ambassador Victoria Nuland,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4.


2. (C) On November 14 Armenian Ambassador to NATO Samvel
Mkrtchian called on Ambassador Nuland to discuss possible
Armenian contributions to ISAF. Mkrtchian said Armenian PM
Serzh Sargsyan had been strongly encouraged by SECDEF Gates
and others on October 18 to contribute to ISAF, and SECDEF
had undertaken to task his staff to provide Yerevan with
specific suggestions. Mkrtchian said Armenia would welcome
these U.S. suggestions. He shared that Armenia is already in
ongoing talks about a possible contribution to the Czech PRT
to be deployed to Logar in Spring 2008.


3. (C) Ambassador Nuland reminded Mkrtchian that there will
be a meeting for Allies and contributors to Afghanistan at
the Bucharest Summit in early April 2008. She suggested
Yerevan consider contributing early enough to earn an
invitation to Bucharest. Mkrtchian agreed to look more
closely at Armenia's deployable capabilities.


4. (C) Action request: USNATO requests guidance on U.S.
thinking about where and with what the Armenians could best
contribute to ISAF. We note the Czech Delegation to NATO says
Prague is not/not enthusiastic about adding Armenians in
Logar.
NULAND