US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1596

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001596 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR HURRICANE TASK FORCE, EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, AM 
SUBJECT: TFUS01: ARMENIAN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: STATE 162226 
 
1. (U) The Republic of Armenia has offered to send as many as 
thirty trained rescue workers to the U.S. at its own expense 
to assist in search and rescue operations in New Orleans. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) President Kocharian's Chief of Staff called 
Ambassador the afternoon of September 2 to make the offer on 
behalf of President Kocharian.  His call was followed by one 
from the head of the Armenian equivalent of FEMA, 
Major-General Eduard Barseghyan.  Barseghyan passed the phone 
to COL Sergey Nikolayevich Azaryan, who provided the 
following details of what they have available: 
 
-- up to thirty trained rescuers who have participated in 
international competitions and in rescue operations in 
Turkey, Iran and Georgia (earthquakes in the first two cases, 
floods in Georgia); 
 
-- the rescue personnel are fully equipped for all kinds of 
operations, including diving, life-saving and removing people 
from buildings.  They can operate watercraft; 
 
-- five of the thirty personnel are English speakers, one 
fluent, the other four passable; 
 
-- they have a doctor of their own. 
 
3. (SBU) Ambassador thanked the officials for their offer and 
promised to convey it without delay to Washington, explaining 
that a task force had been set up to match needs with 
capabilities, and that the task force would have to consider 
the offer.  Contact numbers were exchanged.  Main duty number 
of the Armenan Emergency Management Agency is (374-10) 
53-87-75, but because of the language barrier, we suggest 
that any communications be routed through the Embassy. 
Embassy duty officer is Ed Schack (INL).  Russian speakers 
currently at post include the Ambassador and Pol/Econ Chief 
Cynthia Doell. 
EVANS