Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YEREVAN1006
2008-12-16 12:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL - EMBASSY EVENTS MARK 2OTH

Tags:  KPAO SCUL AM 
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VZCZCXRO7451
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHYE #1006/01 3511258
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161258Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8415
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
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

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SUMMARY
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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

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SUMMARY
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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.

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MARKING 20 YEARS SINCE A NATIONAL TRAGEDY
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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.

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MILAIR FLIGHT COMMEMORATES RELIEF EFFORT

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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.

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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.

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SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM
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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.

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RECOGNITION OF U.S. ROLE
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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