SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-APRIL 2008

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000390 SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR PM AND ISP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP KCFE XG AM SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES REPORT-ODC ARMENIA-APRIL 2008 ¶1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: EMEDS equipment deliveries; Humanitarian Demining training; OSD Policy and Strategy Conference in Washington DC. ¶2. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ¶A. ODC Armenia is currently working closely with the office of the Secretary of the Air Force-International Affairs (SAF/IA),on expediting the delivery of Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) equipment to Armenia that is necessary to conduct EMEDS training with Armenia medical personnel beginning on 9 June 2008. The EUCOM goal is to train and fully equip the Armenian unit, and to validate the unit ready for NATO or Coalition deployments by Aug 08. SAF/IA and ODC are also working to have critical surgical and other operational equipment delivered to Armenia in time to support the planned Jun 08 training that will be conducted by the USAF EMEDS Contingency Hospital Training Course based in Brooks City, TX. ¶B. 08 Apr 08 saw the conclusion of two weeks of humanitarian demining training conducted by ten Kansas National Guard instructors and two representatives form EUCOM's Humanitarian Mine Action program. The training with personnel from the Armenian Humanitarian Demining Center (AHDC),conducted at AHDC, focused on approved techniques and international standards for humanitarian mine removal. Additionally, computer equipment and a link to a Geneva-based humanitarian demining database were also installed at the end of April. Funding for the Guardsmen, the computer equipment, and for some additional equipment purchased to support the training event in Armenia, was all provided by EUCOM's Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) program. This HMA training followed and supported the FMF delivery of new mine detection sets and protective equipment that was provided to the AHDC in Jan 08. The AHDC, which is a military facility and operationally controlled by the Armenian Peacekeeping Brigade, provides demining personnel for humanitarian demining missions in Armenia The unit also regularly provides demining personnel for the Armenian deployments to OIF. Training of the unit supports NATO IPAP goal 2.3.2: Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶C. OSD-ISA conducted the Eurasia Policy and Strategy Conference in Washington DC from 30 Apr - 1 May 08. All U.S. Defense Attaches and ODC Chiefs from Eurasia attended, as did security assistance-related representatives from DSCA, USASAC, the Unified Commands and the Military Services. DASD Fata addressed the group, as did Acting Under Secretary of State Daniel Fried, ASD Mary Beth Long and BG Mark Ramsay. The conference serves as a DoD-wide forum for country-focused working groups to develop strategies for implementation of OSD guidance. ¶D. STATUS OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING (FMF): ¶1. From 26 Apr to 5 May 08, ODC Armenia received large shipments of military equipment associated with the FMF cases AM-B-BAA and AM-B-BAA A1. This equipment for the 1st and 2nd Peacekeeping Battalions largely consisted of field equipment, body armor and plates, battalion staff planning equipment, uniforms and cold weather gear. The FMF deliveries support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶2. The Armenian MOD plans to submit a Letter of Request in the coming weeks to acquire Harris Radio maintenance equipment and to establish a Harris radio maintenance facility in the Signal Department in order to permit the MOD to service FMF provided Harris radios within Armenia. This FMF case would support IPAP Goal 2.3.2; Establish a Peacekeeping Brigade. ¶E. Joint Contact Team Program (JCTP). No JCTP events were conducted during the month of April. ¶F. State Partnership Program (SPP). No SPP events were conducted during the month of April. ¶G. Defense Institution Building (DIB). No DIB events were conducted during April. ¶H. Humanitarian Assistance (HA). ¶1. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) is currently coordinating the implementation of the HA-Other stand-alone project that will reconstruct existing water wells in three rural villages in Armenia where the current water system has deteriorated to a degree that potable water is seldom available. HA funding for this project must be obligated by the end of this fiscal year. ¶2. The ODC received one Excess Property delivery which is currently being provided to an orphanage in Gyumri, Armenia. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in late May 08. ¶3. A second Excess Property shipment for an orphanage in Yerevan, Armenia is expected in May 08. A third EP project for fire-fighting equipment to support the Armenian Rescue Service (ARS) is currently being coordinated by the BAO and EUCOM-J4-ID-HA. ¶H. International Military Education and Training (IMET): English Language testing and number of IMET students in US. ¶1. Training Snapshot Students at DLI: 10 Students at Specialty Training: 5 E-IMET: 1 ¶2. English Comprehension Level (ECL) Testing Students tested in April: 2 ¶3. PERSONNEL/RESOURCES/LOGISTICS ¶A. GAINS: None. ¶B. LOSSES: None ¶C. ATTACHED PERSONNEL (TDY): None. ¶D. APPROVED LEAVES NEXT 30 DAYS: None ¶E. TDY NEXT 30 DAYS: LTC Peterson: Tentative PDSS to OIF -TBD in May 08 ¶F. RATING SCHEME CHANGES: None ¶G. EXTENSIONS/CURTAILMENTS: None. ¶5. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: ¶A. EFFICIENCY REPORT SUSPENSES: ODC Chief's final OER and BAO initial OER due with departure of Maj Gen Remkes ¶B. AWARD SUSPENSES: LTC Peterson: 23 May 08 ¶C. PERSONNEL ACTIONS: None ¶6. ODC CHIEF'S COMMENTS: In-country JCTP events and Defense Institution Building events that were not conducted as planned from Mar-Jun 08 are currently being rescheduled for Jul-Sep 08. Final approval of execution will be coordinated by OSD-ISA and DoS. ¶7. POC for this message is LTC Doug Peterson. 37410-49-46-65 37410-46-47-36(fax) petersond@state.gov PENNINGTON