US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1749

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001749 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PARM, AM 
SUBJECT: ARMENIA SIGNS ON TO DEFENSE ASSESSMENT: 
LETTER FROM THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO EUCOM 
COMMANDER 
 
 
1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please treat 
accordingly. 
 
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MINISTER OF DEFENSE REQUESTS DEFENSE ASSESSMENT 
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2. (SBU) Armenia formally requested a Defense 
Assessment in the following letter from the Minister 
of Defense Serzh Sargsian that his staff transmitted 
to the Embassy August 6.  The English-language text 
of the letter from the Minister of Defense follows. 
Begin Text: 
 
August 5, 2004 
 
To General James L. Jones 
Commander of the United States 
European Command 
 
Dear Mr. General, 
 
Let me inform you that the Ministry of Defense of 
the Republic of Armenia expresses its willingness to 
conduct Defense Assessment by Pentagon in the Armed 
Forces of the Republic of Armenia.  The Ministry of 
Defense proposes to conduct the assessment in the 
fields of communication, Air defense, NBC 
protection, military medicine, military education, 
operational and combat readiness, as well as in 
combat and training units. 
 
Taking into account that one of the primary areas of 
Armenian-American cooperation is peacekeeping, and 
Armenian side wishes to enlarge his capabilities in 
the mentioned area, therefore it is desirable to 
conduct Defense Assessment in the fields of 
Peacekeeping and Special Forces readiness. 
 
It is expedient to make a subject for assessment 
also the legislative field according to which the 
management and manning of the Armed Forces is 
realized both in peacetime, wartime and in crisis 
situations. 
 
At the same time I would like to note that according 
to the assessment standards that you have presented, 
the capabilities of the Armed Forces of RA relating 
to Nagorno Karabakh conflict and guaranteeing the 
existing military balance between the sides may not 
undergo assessment as far as the conflict still 
remains unsettled. 
 
I am hopeful that as a result of defense assessment 
the expected recommendations and assessment marks 
from American side will contribute to the gradual 
reforms in the Armed Forces of Armenia and will spur 
further enlargement and enhancement of Armenia- 
United States cooperation. 
 
Respectfully, 
 
/s/ 
 
Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia 
Serzh Sargsian 
 
End Text. 
GODFREY