Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN2194
2004-10-04 12:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

OSKANIAN CALLS FOR ARMENIAN "RE-

Tags:  PREL PGOV AJ AM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS YEREVAN 002194 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/SNEC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AJ AM
SUBJECT: OSKANIAN CALLS FOR ARMENIAN "RE-
UNIFICATION"


UNCLAS YEREVAN 002194

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/SNEC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AJ AM
SUBJECT: OSKANIAN CALLS FOR ARMENIAN "RE-
UNIFICATION"



1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

--------------
OSKANIAN STUNS DIPLOMATIC CROWD
--------------


2. (SBU) Taking advantage of the official reception
October 2 on the occasion of the "Day of German
Unity," Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian called for
"Armenian reunification" first in an Armenian
version of his remarks, followed immediately by the
same comments in English. Oskanian called for the
reunification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to
outbursts of applause (when he made the comment in
Armenian) and to stunned, muted chatter when he
repeated his remarks in English.

--------------
REMARKS PLANNED, THOUGH NOT FULLY SCRIPTED
--------------


3. (SBU) One of Oskanian's senior advisors, coming
to stand next to us during the remarks, highlighted
them, noting that they had been discussed in
advance, and that the Minister intended his remarks
to refer only to N-K and not to so-called "Western
Armenia." With the entire diplomatic corps in
attendance, it is unlikely that Oskanian expected
his remarks to go unreported. What is not clear is
precisely what he hoped to gain with his statement.
MFA press spokesman Vladimir Karepetyan backed off
Oskanian's remarks somewhat in an October 4
statement, but officially confirmed that, "In his
speech on the occasion of the Day of German Unity,
Minister Oskanian expressed the hope that one day
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will have the
opportunity to reunite."
RICHTER