ARMENIA: ACTION REQUEST ON CUBA TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001589 SIPDIS IO/SHA FOR T. JOHNSON, DRL/MLA FOR M. BUTLER AND L. SICADE, USUN FOR M. SPIRNAK AND M. ZACK, EUR/CACEN FOR K. LOGDSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2014 TAGS: PHUM PREL CU AM UNGA SUBJECT: ARMENIA: ACTION REQUEST ON CUBA TERRORISM RESOLUTION REF: A. SECSTATE 153876 ¶B. DOELL-LOGSDON 15 JULY TELCON Classified By: Ambassador John Ordway for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) (C) We delivered demarche and talking points to MFA Senior Advisor Salpi Ghazarian July 14 per instructions in reftel A. Ghazarian, after confirming with Armenia's Mission in New York, said the GOAM had not made a final decision but was leaning toward voting with the EU and at minimum abstaining on the Cuba resolution at ECOSOC. Acting MFA International Organizations Division Chief Artak Apitonian told us July 15 that Armenia's Mission in New York had reported positively about the possibility that the Cuba resolution would be deferred and not come to a vote. Apitonian said that if the resolution came to a vote, the GOAM was still committed to voting against it or at a minimum abstaining, but that the final decision depended upon updates from EU representatives in New York. He predicted that any split among EU countries would "necessitate" an abstention from the GOAM. He said the MFA was anxious to convey a "helpful approach" on this issue to the Department and our mission in New York. ORDWAY