Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN2387
2004-10-28 12:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

GOAM DENIES SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED

Tags:  PREL PGOV AM UNGA 
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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 SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002387 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/SNEC, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AM UNGA
SUBJECT: GOAM DENIES SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES, REQUESTS USG SUPPORT IN THE UNGA

REFS: A) USUN NEW YORK 2339 B) USUN NEW YORK 2413

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002387

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/SNEC, IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AM UNGA
SUBJECT: GOAM DENIES SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES, REQUESTS USG SUPPORT IN THE UNGA

REFS: A) USUN NEW YORK 2339 B) USUN NEW YORK 2413


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

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


2. (SBU) In a strongly-worded diplomatic note
addressed to the Embassy October 28, the Government
of Armenia denied any illegal activity in the
occupied territories and requested that the United
States vote against the inclusion of the new agenda
item proposed by Azerbaijan for inclusion in the
59th General Assembly. End Summary.

--------------
TEXT OF GOAM DIPLOMATIC NOTE NO. 8/12007
--------------


3. (SBU) The English-language text of the diplomatic
note follows. Begin Text:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia

No. 8/12007

The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Armenia
presents its compliments to the Embassy of the
United States of America and has the honor to refer
to the new agenda item presented by the Republic of
Azerbaijan for inclusion into the agenda of the 59th
session of the UN General Assembly.

The Ministry would kindly ask the Embassy to take
into consideration the following. The matter that
is being raised by Azerbaijan is neither a matter of
urgency, nor in fact a real issue. Azerbaijan
states that the four UN Security Council resolutions
remain unimplemented. Indeed, Armenia has done
exactly as the resolutions state, and used its good
offices to ameliorate the situation. That is why in
the face of Azerbaijan's continued refusal to talk
to the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia
continues to negotiate with Azerbaijan.

As for the existence of 'illegal activities' in the
territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, suffice it
to say that each time Azerbaijan raises this issue
in one or another international forum, Armenia
responds by inviting any legitimate delegation to
visit the region and see for themselves. Azerbaijan
consistently opposes international observers' visits
to the territories. (An offer was made in April to
the UN Office on Drug and Crime. Another offer was
made in June to UNESCO. Both times, Armenians
extended the invitation, and Azerbaijan blocked the
effort.)

Still, Azerbaijan continues to make unfounded

allegations. Their most recent effort involves the
politically loaded term 'settlements'. This motion
is a politically motivated effort to manipulate
opinion, to create the kind of environment, which
Azerbaijan believes will provide it with dividends
both domestically and abroad. Instead, what it will
surely do is derail the peace process, which despite
Azerbaijan's public outcries involves substantive
explorations of prospects and possibilities.

The focus of these negotiations is the issues of
refugees, territories and the status of Nagorno-
Karabakh. The issue of territories continues to
remain part of the package that is being negotiated.
Until those negotiations are concluded, journalists,
international aid workers, delegations from think
tanks and academic and political institutions visit
the region regularly, travel through those
territories, and have never raised the issue of
Armenian settlements there. There are no Armenian
settlements there.

The most recent conflict resolution proposal which
was produced as a result of talks between the
presidents of the two countries itemizes in detail
all the steps necessary for a final settlement:
status of Nagorno-Karabakh, withdrawal timeline,
demilitarized zones and return of refugees,
peacekeepers. In a word, every problematic subject
is covered. There is not a single word there on
settlements. Again, that is because there are no
Armenian settlements there.

Various European institutions have rapporteurs
assigned to the region who are particularly
interested in the conflict and regularly prepare
reports on their visits. The OSCE Chairman-in-
Office Special Envoy on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
writes detailed monthly reports on the region. He
includes a wide array of information, including much
that is not specifically within his mandate, but
which is relevant to the conflict and its context.
In none of those reports is there a single mention
of settlements.

This non-issue is being artificially raised by
Azerbaijan to the level of urgent problem. Armenia
has 400,000 refugees of its own as a result of this
15-year-old conflict. There could not be such
settlements or even a policy as the Armenians have
intentionally refrained from encouraging such
settlements. Even though they may have provided
some domestic dividends, they would clearly
complicate the process of a lasting resolution.

The Armenian side is ready to host any groups or
observers who wish to come and personally see the
situation on those lands for themselves. It will be
eminently clear that there is no "new demographic
situation" there.

The Government of Armenia would very much appreciate
if the Government of the United States votes against
the inclusion of this agenda item raised by
Azerbaijan at the 59th session of the General
Assembly to avert this attempt of Azerbaijan to
further politicize the issue at this crucial time in
the negotiation process.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia avails itself of this opportunity to renew
to the Embassy of the United States the assurances
of its highest consideration.

October 28

Embassy of the
United States of America
Yerevan
End Text.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. (SBU) While we concur overall with the
unhelpfulness of the proposed agenda item, we can in
no way certify to the facts alleged in this
diplomatic note, particularly not the assertion that
there are 400,000 refugees in Armenia.
EVANS