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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHYE #0928 3231014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181014Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8303
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEADWW/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000928 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL OPDC OPRC KPAO AM
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE TO COMMEMORATE 
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN EARTHQUAKE 
 
¶1. This is an action message.  See paragraph 4. 
 
¶2.  On December 7, 1988, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck 
northern Armenia, collapsing hundreds of poorly constructed 
buildings and killing an estimated 25,000 people, and leaving 
tens of thousands homeless just as a bitter . Among the 
victims were thousands of schoolchildren whose 
badly-constructed school buildings collapsed on top of them. 
The earthquake leveled the town of Spitak, caused massive 
damage in the nearby cities of Leninakan (now Gyumri) and 
Kirovakan (now Vanadzor), and numerous surrounding towns and 
villages. The event was a searing national tragedy, from 
which northern Armenia has not yet really recovered. 
 
¶3.  For the first time, the Soviet Union accepted U.S. and 
international offers of disaster relief aid, and this became 
the de facto beginning of the U.S.-Armenia bilateral 
relationship.  President Reagan's outgoing Administration 
dispatched rescue squads from Fairfax County, Virgina, and 
Miami-Dade County, Florida, to assist in the search for 
survivors in the collapsed buildings, and USAID/OFDA sent a 
disaster relief team to provide urgent humanitarian 
assistance, in cooperation with other international donors. 
The Administration also sent Vice President/President-elect 
George H.W. Bush's son Jeb Bush to Armenia, accompanied by 
his young son George P. Bush, as a special presidential envoy 
in honor of the tragic deaths.  The Armenian-American 
community was galvanized to raise funds and procure tons of 
relief supplies, for which the U.S. Government was able to 
provide airlift. 
 
¶4.  ACTION REQUEST:  The 20th anniversary of the 
Spitak/Leninakan (Gyumri) earthquake will be a very 
high-profile opportunity to express sympathy and solidarity 
with the Armenian people on the occasion of a massive 
national tragedy.  Post recommends that the President issue a 
message to commemorate the 20th anniversary, for posting to 
the White House website.  The Embassy will then distribute 
the presidential statement (with an Armenian translation) as 
an embassy press release, which we expect would garner 
national media attention and be very favorably received by 
the Armenian people, both at home and in the worldwide 
Diaspora. 
 
¶5. PROPOSED TEXT OF PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT: 
 
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the devasting earthquake 
which ravaged northern Armenia on December 7, 1988.  That 
terrible earthquake took the lives of some 25,000 Armenians, 
including thousands of children.  This national catastrophe 
also left many thousands of people without homes, at the 
outset of a bitterly cold winter, creating terrible hardship 
for survivors grieving the loss of their loved ones. 
Americans join all Armenians in remembering this time of 
national tragedy and in honoring those whose lives were lost. 
 
The birth of the modern relationship between the United 
States and the soon-to-be independent Republic of Armenia 
came in the aftermath of this disaster.  A distinguishing 
quality of the human spirit is the fact that at such a time 
of suffering and loss, people from around the world put aside 
political disagreements for the higher purpose of rescuing 
and protecting those who are in need.  I am proud that the 
United States was quick to respond to Armenia's need, working 
in partnership with the Armenian people and with other 
nations likewise supplying help.  I'm especially proud of 
America's Armenian community, who exemplified the finest 
aspects of both American and Armenian character, and rallied 
to provide great help to their ancestral homeland. 
 
I honor the courage and spirit of the Armenian people, who 
faced such grave challenges with grace, dignity, resilience, 
and national purpose.  On this 20th anniversary, Laura and I 
express our sincere condolences and best wishes to Armenia as 
you remember the loved ones you have lost and the hardships 
you have overcome. 
YOVANOVITCH