VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHYE #1677 3391435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH(CCY INFO ADDEE AD0565B4F MSI1029-536)
P 051435Z DEC 06 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//J2/J5/HSE// PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4507
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0016

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001677 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (ADDED INFO ADDRESSEES) 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC 
OSD FOR POLICY/EURASIA/AMER LATIF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS AM
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR TREATMENT OF IRAQ-WOUNDED ARMENIAN 
SOLDIER AT WALTER REED 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. Post strongly urges that the Department of Defense approve 
the evacuation to Walter Reed Army Medical Center of Armenian 
First Lieutenant Georgi Nalbandian, who was wounded during 
his service with coalition forces in Iraq.  Providing 
treatment and rehabilitative care to Nalbandian in Washington 
is important for both practical and political reasons.  It 
would send a strong positive message to the GOAM that the USG 
values its contribution in Iraq, and would shore up Armenian 
government and public support for maintaining and one day 
increasing its troop commitment.  On a practical level, 
Washington is the only treatment locale proposed where 
Nalbandian can receive adequate support and contact from the 
Armenian government, via its Embassy and the Armenian 
community in Washington.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. Nalbandian, who lost a leg in Iraq to a November 11 IED 
explosion, is the first Armenian soldier to be severely 
wounded in Iraq.  He is nearing the end of his treatment at 
the Europe Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. 
Next, he must be fitted for a prosthesis and undergo 
rehabilitation that will improve his quality of life and 
allow him to continue his service in the Armenian Armed 
Forces. 
 
¶3. We believe the USG response to the Nalbandian case will 
significantly influence Armenia's decisions regarding current 
and future deployments.  It also will affect what has, to 
date, been a very positively developing U.S.-Armenian defense 
relationship.  Providing Nalbanian transportation to and 
treatment at Walter Reed would send a strong signal that the 
U.S. values Armenia's contribution to the coalition effort in 
Iraq -- a contribution that has not been universally 
supported in Armenia.  A decision to continue his treatment 
at Walter Reed would pay significant dividends not only to 
the soldier, but to the ever-improving defense relationship 
with a partner country in a volatile region. 
 
¶4. We also believe it is important for Nalbandian to receive 
treatment at a location with an accessible support network, 
especially once he reaches the out-patient phase of his 
rebahilitative care.  Post understands that Nalbandian's care 
will require a significant period of out-patient 
rehabilitation, after he has been discharged from in-patient 
hospital care.  Armenia,s Defense Attach in Washington has 
expressed the readiness of the Armenian Embassy to support 
Nalbandian during and after his residential stay at Walter 
Reed, which would be a very substantial advantage to the 
lieutenant's well-being, as well as in reducing the logisticl 
and administrative burden on USG agencies.  The primary 
burden would be on Armenian government officials to oversee 
Nalbandian's physical welfare and logistical needs, which the 
USG focuses on his medical needs.  The Armenian Embassy would 
also be able to act as the GOAM's fiscal agent in paying 
Nalbandian's hotel bills and related costs, in anticipation 
of eventual USG reimbursement.  The presence of a sizeable 
Armenian community in the Washington metro area would provide 
a further suport network, contributing to Nalbanian's overall 
well-being while he undergoes rehabilitation that is often 
mentally taxing as well as physically demanding.  We 
understand that Walter Reed also offers Nalbandian the 
benefit of undergoing his rehabilitation in the company of 
other amputees to whom he could relate. 
 
¶5. Representatives of the Armenian Ministry of Defense have 
indicated--we still wait formal confirmation--that the MOD 
will be prepared to pay Nalbandian's outpatient care-related 
lodging and transportation costs up-front, with the 
expectation of subsequent DOD reimbursement pursuant to the 
2003 USD/Comptroller Zakheim Memorandum. We rely on the 
Departments of State and Defense to ensure that this 
understanding that the GOAM will receive full USG 
reimbursement for all medical and rehabilitative care, and 
associated subsistence costs, is accurate. 
GODFREY