ARMENIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHES ON HUMAN

UNCLAS YEREVAN 002456 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, WHA/CCA, IO/UNP, USUN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM AM UNGA SUBJECT: ARMENIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHES ON HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS REF: A) STATE 236869 B) STATE 237932 (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarches to Artak Apitonian, Head of the UN Division at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. -------------- BELARUS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Regarding Belarus, Apitonian stated that Armenia is wavering between abstaining and voting against the resolution. Armenia would be more likely to vote for a resolution containing "softer" language rather than the "hard line" Apitonian perceives in recent U.S. supported UNGA resolutions. Armenia could possibly vote for Belarus's motion of no-action (ref B). Apitonian promised, however, to vote against any Belarusian resolution critical of the U.S. election. -------------- TURKMENISTAN -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Armenia is likely to maintain last year's position on the Turkmenistan resolution and abstain. Apitonian noted that Turkmenistan voted with Azerbaijan on the last Nagorno-Karabagh (N-K) resolution. Armenia could vote for the Turkmenistan resolution if it perceived a hardening in the Turkmen position, but this scenario is unlikely. -------------- SUDAN AND ZIMBABWE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Apitonian stated that Armenia would vote for both the Sudan and Zimbabwe resolutions. He qualified this position, however, with the caveat that if Zimbabwe threatened to vote with Azerbaijan on its current N-K resolution, Armenia might modify its vote on Zimbabwe. -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Although Armenia recognizes Iran's human rights abuses, Apitonian stated that Armenia could not vote for the resolution on Iran and would likely abstain. He continued to note that concern for the welfare of the large ethnic Armenian population in Iran and the importance of trade relations prevent Armenia from taking a stronger stance. EVANS