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