US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1337

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001337 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, EUR/PGI, DRL 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID AND MCC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, AM 
SUBJECT:  AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CITIZEN CONCERNS IN ARMENIA'S 
SYUNIK REGION 
 
 
1. (U) Summary:  Ambassador Ordway discussed USG assistance 
programs and current events with Armenians living in the 
southern province of Syunik during a town hall meeting June 
8 in the provincial capital of Kapan.  The meeting was part 
of a broader schedule of USG assistance site visits and 
political consultations with representatives from regional 
and local government bodies.  Armenians raised the issues of 
education, youth programs, refugees and infrastructure needs 
and asked the Ambassador to continue looking for ways to 
match USG assistance programming to urgent needs at the 
local level.  National and regional press covered the event 
which was organized through a network of local NGOs active 
in democracy and governance.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
TOWN HALL MEETING BRINGS TOGETHER NGOS, AMCITS, GOAM REPS 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
2. (U) Ambassador Ordway met with Armenians living in the 
southern province of Syunik to discuss USG assistance and 
current events during a town hall meeting June 8 in the 
provincial capital of Kapan.  Volunteers from local NGOs 
active in democracy and governance issues constituted the 
majority of the participants.  Local government leaders, 
Amcits living in the region and citizens interested in U.S.- 
Armenia issues also attended the event. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
PEOPLE SPEAK OUT ON EDUCATION, YOUTH, RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
3. (U) Following the screening of a video presentation 
summarizing USG assistance efforts in Armenia, Armenians 
posed questions on a wide range of assistance-related 
issues.  Educators from local schools raised the issue of 
how the USG chose schools for programs including the 
Armenian School Connectivity Program and USAID's Public 
Works Project (a countrywide structural rehabilitation 
program involving schools and other municipal buildings). 
Educators and municipal leaders said there was a continued 
need for youth programs in the province and expressed their 
perception that there were increasingly limited government 
resources in this area.  Participants also raised questions 
about USG and donor community approaches to the most urgent 
needs of refugee communities, including housing and 
employment. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
MATCHING ASSISTANCE TO "EVERYDAY NEEDS" 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4. (U) A common theme among participants' questions and 
comments was a perceived need by Armenians in the Syunik 
region to better channel their input to the government and 
donor organizations like the USG regarding future assistance 
programs.  Attendees from both government and NGO 
organizations suggested that their opinions regarding urgent 
assistance needs at the local level were not a central part 
of the policy-making process.  Ambassador Ordway responded 
to these concerns by outlining USG assistance strategies and 
the newly-adopted USAID five-year strategy.  He also 
mentioned the upcoming consultative process related to the 
GOAM's Millennium Challenge Account compact submission and 
encouraged civic organizations to stay abreast of MCA 
developments and voice their input. 
 
----------------------------------- 
ASSISTANCE SITES IN ARMENIA'S SOUTH 
----------------------------------- 
 
5. (U) The town hall meeting was part of a broader schedule 
of USG assistance site visits and consultations with local 
leaders in the Syunik region.  The Ambassador and 
representatives from USAID and Peace Corps visited USG 
assistance project sites including a meeting with GOAM 
officials at the Armenia-Iran border control point in 
Meghri, a Community Self Help Fund renovation project in the 
region's largest elementary school, a newly privatized 
mining facility involving significant investment from U.S. 
investors, Peace Corps volunteers in the town of Goris.  The 
Ambassador also presided at the inauguration of a newly- 
renovated psychiatric hospital in Kapan.  The hospital 
project involved USG funding and cooperation from four other 
humanitarian assistance providers.  Regional government and 
Ministry of Health representatives praised the project as a 
prime example of collaboration among the donor community. 
The Ambassador also consulted with the Marzpet (Governor) 
and mayors as part of the trip schedule. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
DESPITE UPCOMING ELECTION, LITTLE POLITICAL BUZZ 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
6. (U) Despite a regional by-election scheduled for June 13 
and a flurry of activity among opposition politicians in 
April and May, there was relatively little discussion among 
town hall participants or government interlocutors about 
political issues during the Ambassador's visit.  (Note:  The 
election for the majoritarian seat in Armenia's National 
Assembly was called after MP Suren Khachatryan was appointed 
Syunik's new marzpet in March 2004.  Only one candidate, 
Vahan Hakobyan remained in the race.  Hakobyan is the son of 
Kocharian supporter Maxim Hakobyan -- a wealthy and 
influential business figure with considerable ties to 
Syunik's mining industry.  End note.)  When asked about the 
election, most Armenians expressed confidence that Hakobyan 
would garner the necessary fifty percent of the vote and 
take the election.  NGOs active in democracy and governance 
programs expressed similar views following the town hall 
meeting and even went so far as to predict an "uneventful" 
election on June 13 (septel). 
ORDWAY