Armenia and the War on Terror

Underlying the very nature of US-Armenian relations was Armenia’s unconditional support for the United States in its campaign against the international terrorism on the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Immediately upon the commencement of the Operation Enduring Freedom the Armenian Government granted blanket clearance to fly over Armenia’s territory, as well as refueling and landing for the coalition aircraft. Medical treatment was offered for U.S. troops in Armenia’s hospitals, including in the regionally unique Spinal Injuries Treatment Hospital of the Armenian Red Cross. The Armenian Government provided expert and legal assistance to relevant U.S. agencies and shared information. During his visit to Armenia in December 2001 US Secretary of Defense Ronald Rumsfeld noticed how important proved the information provided by Armenia in the anti-terrorist efforts.

Following the September 11 tragedy, Armenia, then the Chairman of the Collective Security Treaty, made on behalf of the member states the statement condemning the criminal attacks on the United States and calling upon all nations for collective efforts to fight terrorism.

On the legal front of the battle against terrorism Armenia implemented through its financial institutions UN Security Council Resolution 1373 to freeze bank accounts and assets of terrorists and their supporters, and joined the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, as well as the Council of Europe’s all anti-terrorism conventions.

In a year period from September 2001 the US-led coalition aircraft performed more than 600 flights over Armenia. The overflights through Armenia spared U.S. aircraft stationed in neighboring Turkey the dangerous task of refueling in mid-air on their way back from Afghanistan. “The airplanes were coming out of Turkey and dropping all the foodstuffs to different groups of Afghan people,” U.S. Defense Attaché in Armenia, Lieutenant-Colonel Eric von Tersch explained. “They could fly to Afghanistan, drop their loads and fly back directly without having to do the dangerous refueling in the air. If they didn’t fly over Armenia, they would have had to go over Georgia, which would have required the refueling in the high altitude.”

Even greater was the reaction of the people of Armenia to the tragedy of September 11, multiplied by the scores of human relations that tie our countries together. From churches and NGO’s, from the legislature and political groups came a unanimous condemnation of the perpetrators and expression of solidarity with the American people. About 360 Armenian nationals had volunteered to fight against the Taliban regime alongside U.S. troops last fall. The charitable concert under the slogan “Armenia for America” organized by the famous Armenian pop star Noune this spring attracted multitude of people in Yerevan. On July 10, 2002, a small town of Ararat unveiled a moving memorial to the victims of the September 11 tragedy.

In his recent message to President George W. Bush, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian reiterated, “Armenia’s commitment to the U.S. led global coalition’s campaign against international networks of terrorists…”