FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL - EMBASSY EVENTS MARK 2OTH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001006 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958; N/A TAGS: KPAO SCUL AM SUBJECT: FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL - EMBASSY EVENTS MARK 2OTH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTHQUAKE AND U.S. ROLE -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Two photo exhibits, a Speaker's Program, a message from President Bush and a U.S. military flight bringing humanitarian aid served to recall the devastating earthquake that struck northern Armenia in 1988 and the leading role the USG played as part of the international response. The exhibits and speaker were also able to highlight the innovative voucher program funded by USAID to address the long-term housing needs of thousands of families in the earthquake zone. The broad range of current USG activities in the region, aimed at fostering sustainable social and economic development, were also on display. Thanks to widespread media coverage over a three day period, we estimate that well over half of the Armenian public was reminded of the scope and nature of U.S. assistance, starting with humanitarian relief and reaching to the current engagement on multiple levels by a variety of government agencies on both sides. End Summary. -------------- MARKING 20 YEARS SINCE A NATIONAL TRAGEDY -------------- ¶2. On December 7, 1988, at 11:41 in the morning, an earthquake registering 6.9 on the Richter scale struck northern Armenia. Within minutes of the first shock, dozens of cities and towns were reduced to rubble, with thousands of people trapped inside the twisted and fallen buildings. More than 25,000 people died and over 500,000 were left homeless. The Soviet government soon realized that it needed help and, for the first time ever, sought foreign assistance. The United States was among the 74 countries to respond to the call for assistance. All told, the U.S. government and private groups supplied over $51 million in humanitarian relief. ¶3. Embassy Yerevan sought an appropriate way to mark the twentieth anniversary of the earthquake while reminding Armenians of the prominent role the U.S. played in the initial relief effort and continues to play in the earthquake zone today. Ultimately, our multi-faceted program to honor the anniversary included a U.S. military flight delivering humanitarian cargo; matching photo exhibits in Yerevan and Gyumri highlighting the event, its aftermath, and U.S. aid then and later; and a Speaker's Program featuring one of our leading former implementers of post-earthquake housing assistance. -------------- MILAIR FLIGHT COMMEMORATES RELIEF EFFORT -------------- ¶4. The Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation was able to coordinate with U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Naval Forces Europe (USNAVEUR) to bring a U.S. Navy C-130 cargo aircraft to Armenia loaded with equipment for the Armenian Rescue Service and medical supplies for four hospitals in the earthquake zone. The flight recalled the many aircraft that came to Armenia from the United States and elsewhere bringing relief supplies in the days immediately following the earthquake. The embassy organized a tarmac ceremony which received extensive media coverage -- a great photo op of large, Red Cross-emblazoned boxes of medical supplies rolling off the plane as our press conference took place in the foreground. The Ambassador made brief remarks and then read aloud the statement issued by President George W. Bush in honor of the earthquake anniversary. This was followed by brief remarks from the Minister of Emergency Situations, Mher Shahgeldian, and by LTG Edik Barseghian, Director of the Armenian Rescue Service. Journalists then filmed while the Ambassador, Minister, and Director briefly observed the unloading, and the aircraft commander led them on a tour of the aircraft. -------------- PHOTO EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS U.S. ROLE -------------- ¶5. Two identical photo exhibits were mounted. Entitled "From Survival to Revival" one was in Yerevan, the capital, the other in Gyumri, the largest city in the earthquake zone. Post provided a PD program grant to the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development to put the shows together. The goal of the over 75 photos was to tell a visual story of the earthquake's destruction, the international humanitarian rescue effort that followed, the innovative USAID project that provided long-term housing solutions to many of the victims, and the USG development programs underway in the region today. The Ambassador presided over both exhibit openings, in Gyumri and in Yerevan, with good media coverage. The events featured local earthquake survivors who had been helped by U.S. assistance, and whose moving personal stories deeply humanized the story. YEREVAN 00001006 002 OF 002 ¶6. We were fortunate to find for the photo exhibits archival materials showing White House Special Envoy Jeb Bush visiting the earthquake zone with his son, George P. Bush, in December 1988. There were also photos of Jesse Jackson and (Armenian American) Cher. Two of the most touching pictures were a famous black and white shot of a distraught mother with her three children clinging to her skirt and another color photo of the same women, today, smiling with her four grandchildren gathered around her. That woman spoke at the opening of the Yerevan exhibit, as did another earthquake victim, who received medical attention in the U.S. -------------- SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM -------------- ¶7. Thanks to IIP's Speakers Program, Post was able to bring to Armenia the former USAID Chief of Party responsible for implementing an innovative 35 million dollar voucher program that helped clear away shantytowns in the middle of the region's cities and provide thousands of families living in the dilapidated huts with new homes. He spoke at the opening of the two photo exhibits, and also gave well-received power point presentations to several groups of students of architecture and urban planning. Brochures containing many of the photos and a more detailed description of U.S. assistance programs were distributed at the exhibit openings. A twenty minute film was also prepared and shown to the visitors. It highlighted U.S. assistance, past and present, to the earthquake zone. -------------- RECOGNITION OF U.S. ROLE -------------- ¶8. The staggering of commemorative events resulted in three days of widespread media coverage, particularly on television. The first day saw the opening of the photo exhibit in Yerevan, followed the next day by the opening of the photo exhibit in Gyumri, and culminating in the C-130's arrival on the day of the earthquake. ¶9. As is often the case, the U.S. was the single biggest donor to Armenia following the earthquake but, because there are no specific buildings with a plaque, people are either unaware or forget that fact. Post found itself competing with the likes of Italy, which announced a 500,000 Euro donation to help rebuild Gyumri's principal church on the main square. However, not even the GOAM's large scale commemoration of the earthquake on December 7, featuring former Prime Minister of the USSR Nikolay Rizhkov, was able to overshadow the impressive footage of the Ambassador speaking as the huge C-130 arrived and was unloaded at the airport. From the extent of the coverage and the numerous favorable comments we have received since, Embassy estimates that well over half of Armenia's population was made aware of the outpouring of assistance from the U.S. following the earthquake and the prominent role USG programs continue to play today in the earthquake zone. YOVANOVITCH