SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-June 2007

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000893

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM
SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-June 2007


1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Bilateral Defense Consultations (BDC) held in
Wash DC; South Caucasus and Moldova Clearing House (SCMCH) conducted
in Tbilisi; U.S. Assessment of Armenian English language program
concluded; ODC escorts key MOD leaders to DLI in San Antonio; Letter
of Agreement for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) equipment
sent to USASAC; JCTP Familiarization events sends three Armenians to
see Kansas EMEDS. Initial coordination for Humanitarian Assistance
project conducted.


2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS


A. Bilateral Defense Consultations (BDC): The Office of the
Secretary of Defense (OSD) hosted the US-Armenian BDC in Old Town

SIPDIS
Alexandria, VA on 26-28 Jun. The OSD Principal Director for Europe
and NATO: Mr Tony Aldwell hosted the proceedings and Gen-Maj Mikhael
Melkonyan led the Armenian delegation. The US security cooperation
program was reviewed and the way ahead identified. The Armenian
delegation provided a review of the year's assistance and an update
on the implementation of their NATO Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP). Additionally a formal invitation was extended by
Coalition Affairs to Armenia to increase their contingent size in
OIF. The ARM and U.S. sides agreed to continue development of the
ARM Peacekeeping Brigade using FMF, IMET, and JCTP; with continued
US assistance with Defense Institution Building as specified by the
IPAP; and with the increased U.S. support for the development of the
EMEDS capability by Summer 2008.


B. South Caucasus and Moldova Clearing House (SCMCH). The SCMCH
Conference was conducted in Tbilisi, Georgia on 6-8 Jun 07. The
event generated case proposals, to OSD through their conference
representative, for Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative (GPOI)
funding and de-mining funding to support the development of the ARM
Peacekeeping Brigade. ODC has submitted these proposals and is
awaiting a response from the OSD representative.


C. Language Assessment. The U.S. language instructor and program
manager: Mrs Laura MacKenzie, from the Defense Language Institute
for English Language Center (DLIELC) completed her assessment of the
existing English language program in the Armenian MOD, and is
developing a recommendation paper to assist the MOD in establishing
a new intensive English language training (ELT) program in the
Armenian Aviation Institute. This ELT will directly support IMET
preparation and Armenian officer development. Mrs McKenzie arrived 9
May and departed 9 June. During that time she evaluated the ELT at
the Armenian Aviation Institute, the Military Institute, the 12th
Peacekeeping Bn, the De-mining Center, and in the MOD. The DLI
recommendation paper is expected to be delivered by mid-July 07.
Complimenting this assessment, the ODC is conducting a number of
actions to support the establishment of the Armenian intensive ELT
program: Upgrade an existing EL lab at the Aviation institute to
support intensive EL study; escort the EL program developer (the
Personnel Department Chief) and the Chief Armenian Security
Assistance Coordinator to see the DLI facilities in San Antonio; and
request an MTT of two instructors from DLI who will help establish
the new intensive ELT program once the Armenian MOD meets the
preconditions established by the DLI Assessment report prepared by
Mrs McKenzie.


D. Defense Language Institute (DLI) Visit: The ODC Chief
escorted Gen-Maj Mikhael Melkonyan: Chief, Department of
International Military Cooperation and Defense Programs; Colonel
Murad Isakhanyan, Head, Personnel and Military Education Department;
and the Armenian Defense Attach: Colonel Armen Sarkisyan, to tour
DLI in San Antonio, TX. The Armenian delegation saw the facility and
its intensive English language program in order to support their own
plans for standing-up an Armenian intensive language program in the
coming months. Such a program would directly support their current
IMET program by increasing EL proficiency in IMET candidates prior
to their departure for DLI. Currently about $500K of the $800K IMET
budget is used to teach EL to IMET students with the remainder used
to fund professional military education (PME) in the U.S. An
effective Armenian intensive English program can dramatically reduce
the ELT costs at DLI by increasing EL scores in Armenian IMET
students before their departure from Armenia, thereby reducing
required time at DLI, and allowing for freed-up IMET funding to
support additional Armenian students to attend PME.


E. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF):

1. The Letter of Agreement (LOA) for the $757K FMF case:
AM-B-UBC; NBC Equipment, was signed in the ARM MOD and returned to
USASAC and DSCA on 22 Jun 07. This equipment supports the 12th
Peacekeeping Battalion by providing NBC defensive equipment to each
of the 12th Battalion's soldiers and by equipping the 12th
Battalion's Chemical Platoon with chemical detection equipment. This
equipment will improve NATO and US interoperability for the 12th Bn
and directly supports their platoon size deployments to Iraq.

2. ODC is awaiting the LOA for the FMF case for excess
defense vehicles coordinated by the United States Army Security
Assistance Command (USASAC) sent out on 11 May 07 (AM-R-FFF). It is
currently being processed and will improve the deployment capability
of the Armenian Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) field
hospital.

3. Additional equipment ordered for the 12th Peacekeeping
Battalion in the FMF AM-B-BAA, A1 case requested in Sep 06 will
continue arriving with the delivery of a third large shipment
expected in mid to late July.

4. ODC is awaiting the LOA for the FMF blanket case for
excess personnel equipment, coordinated by the Defense Reutilization
and Marketing Office (DRMO) sent out on 2 Feb 07 (AM-R-FFF). It is
currently being processed by DSCA.


F. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). One Out-of-Cycle JCTP
event was held in June. Two members of the Armenian Rescue Service
and one from the Ministry of Defense visited the site of the recent
tornado disaster. In Greenberg, Kansas the group saw the Kansas
National Guard EMEDS that was deployed in May and which is being
jointly operated by the Kansas National Guard and civilians from the
destroyed local hospital. The group also received briefings from
the various organizations that responded to the natural disaster and
members of the Joint Operations Cell (JOC). This FAM supports the
development of the Armenian EMEDS by broadening the Armenian
interagency interoperability related to crisis response.


G. State Partnership Program (SPP). No SPP events were
conducted in June. Funding has been received to conduct a Crisis
Communications TCT. The event is currently scheduled for 4th
Quarter.



H. Humanitarian Assistance (HA).

1. BAO Armenia along with a USAID officer attended the
EUCOM/USAID Humanitarian Assistance/Partnership Conference in Tunis,
Tunisia in June. The conference clarified the status of numerous HA
projects for ODC Armenia.

2. After the ODC was notified that the water refurbishment HA
project would be funded for FY 07 and a total of $200K would be
provided to support EUCOM approved HA projects in FY07-08, the BAO
conducted coordination meetings in June with the NGO supporting the
HA project, and the US Army Corps of Engineers who will provide
contracting and oversight services throughout the execution of the
water-well drilling project. The stand-alone HA event will
reconstruct existing water wells in two rural villages in Armenia
where the current water system has deteriorated to a degree that
potable water is seldom available.

3. The second approved HA event will provide medical supplies
and support during an HA related Mil-to-Mil event. This event will
bring a dentist and optometrist from the Kansas National Guard to
Armenia to work with two Armenian Military doctors to provide
services to rural areas in Armenia.

4. Additionally the ODC submitted two EP requests that are
awaiting approval and funding. One request is to supply furniture
and school equipment to two affiliated orphanages for disabled
children. The second request is to supply the same items for a
boarding school for children with disabilities.


I. International Military Education and Training (IMET):
English Language testing and number of IMET students in US.


1. Training Snapshot
Students at DLI: 16
Students at Specialty Training: 3
E-IMET: 0


2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing
Students tested: 4
Highest score - 87
Lowest Score - 33
Average score - 53.75


3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS


A. GAINS: None.


B. LOSSES: Mrs Araksya Abrahamyan will resign from
Her Training Program Coordinator in the ODC and
move with her husband to France in Sep 07.
ODC has initiated paperwork to hire a replacement
before Mrs Abrahamyan's departure date to help
ensure overlap.


C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None.


D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: LTC Moyer 29 Jun-6 Jul 07


E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: None.


F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: None.


G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None.


5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES:


A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES:
a. LTC Peterson: COR in Jul 07
b. LTC Moyer: COR in Jul 07


B. AWARD SUSPENSES: LTC Moyer in Jul 07.


C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: LTC Moyer will depart Yerevan
to out-process at EUCOM on 25 Jul 07. MAJ Ed
Keller is scheduled to arrive in Yerevan and
conduct a week-long hand-over and subsequently
assume his duties as BAO following his 21
Jul 07 arrival.


6. ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS: None.


7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson.

37410-49-46-65
37410-46-47-36(fax)
petersond@state.gov

PERINA