VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHYE #0007/01 0041344
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041344Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6827

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR AM ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS PTER
SUBJECT: ARMENIA - 2007 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 145633 
     ¶B. B. SECSTATE 146856 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  There have been no major terrorism-related 
developments in Armenia in 2007.  Per reftel instruction, the 
following is an update of Armenia,s 2006 Country Report on 
Terrorism.  Due to technical difficulties in gaining edit 
privileges to its country,s terrorism page on 
Intellipedia-S, post has opted to send the text of the report 
in standard cable format.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In 2007 Armenia continued to be a valuable partner 
of the United States in the Global War on Terrorism.  This 
partnership included continued commitment to over-flight and 
landing rights of U.S. Military Aircraft, additional security 
support to U.S. facilities in Armenia during times of 
terrorist alert, and the renewed deployment of peacekeeping 
forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  In addition, 
this year Armenia joined or expressed interest in joining a 
number of international security initiatives targeting 
terrorism.  These included the Global Initiative to Combat 
Nuclear Terrorism (GICANT), The Convention for Suppression of 
Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and The Nuclear Smuggling Outreach 
Initiative (NSOI). 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Financial Monitoring Center (FMC), a 
U.S.-supported financial intelligence unit within the Central 
Bank of Armenia (CBA) continued to make investigative strides 
against money-laundering in 2007.  During the first nine 
months of 2007, the FMC received twenty-four suspicious 
transactions reports (STRs).  This compared to twenty-three 
STRs during the same period in 2006, and six STRs in 2005. 
Under its current mandate the CBA can temporarily freeze 
financial assets while referring the STRs to the competent 
authorities for further investigation.  To date, no cases 
involving terrorist financing have been uncovered or 
prosecuted.  In addition, the FMC received Egmont Group 
membership in 2007. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In 2007, Armenia continued efforts to improve border 
security by maintaining an automated Border Management 
Information System (BMIS) that documented and stored the 
names of travelers at nearly all official points of entry 
(POEs).  The remaining two POEs (Gogovan and Bavra) were 
scheduled to have BMIS capability by February 2008.  This 
BMIS also contains criminal and terrorist watch-lists as 
updated by the Republic of Armenia Police (RA) and National 
Security Service (NSS).  While Armenia has no bilateral 
agreement with the U.S. governing the sharing of information 
on travelers, the NSS and RA continued to share information 
with the U.S. Embassy when they discovered fraudulent U.S. 
visas or other documents of interest. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The 2006 warming trend in Armenia,s relations with 
neighboring Iran continued throughout 2007, with Armenia 
hosting official visits by Iranian President Ahmedinejad 
(October) and Iranian Defense Minister Najjar (November).  In 
addition to fostering closer diplomatic ties, these visits 
served to solidify previous bilateral commitments to develop 
joint energy and transportation projects.  This closer 
cooperation has made Armenian more reluctant to publicly 
criticize objectionable Iranian conduct or join other UN 
member states in advocating for sanctions on the Iranian 
regime. 
 
-------------------- 
TERRORIST ACTIVITIES 
-------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In 2007 there were no significant terrorist 
activities recorded in Armenia.  However, the Regional 
Security Office (RSO) noted more than one possible 
surveillance incident of the U.S. Embassy facility involving 
Iranian nationals and an Iranian diplomatic plated vehicle. 
Separately, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has a limited 
official presence in Armenia, but there is no evidence to 
suggest that it is conducting military training or operations 
in the country. 
 
---------- 
CHALLENGES 
---------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Although Armenia has continued to strengthen its 
Counter-Terrorism capabilities and has enhanced its CT 
cooperation with the United States and other international 
security organs, its geographic location, porous borders, and 
loose visa regime still provide ample opportunities for 
traffickers of illicit materials, persons, and finances. 
Furthermore, endemic governmental corruption, a significant 
organized crime presence, and a large shadow economy make the 
country potentially vulnerable to money laundering and 
terrorist financing schemes. 
 
--------------------- 
POST POINT OF CONTACT 
--------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Post POC on general terrorism issues is PolEcon 
officer Nigel De Coster; e-mail: decosterna@state.gov; tel. 
( 374 10) 46-47-00 ext. 4628. 
PENNINGTON