ARMENIAN IRAQ DEPLOYMENT ON TRACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 002662

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM MARR IZ AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN IRAQ DEPLOYMENT ON TRACK

REF: A) YEREVAN 2517 B) YEREVAN 2648

Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsian requested a
one-on-one meeting with Ambassador Evans in order to discuss
the next steps as the GOAM prepares to deploy a non-combat
unit to Iraq. After the Ambassador emphasized the importance
of approving the deployment without delay, the Minister
assured the Ambassador that the National Assembly (NA) would
consider the question during the second of two upcoming
extraordinary sessions planned before the end of 2004, most
likely on December 27. Noting that the Constitutional Court
decision (ref b) had opened the way for NA authorization of
the deployment, Sargsian said that although the agenda for
the December 13 extraordinary session was already full, he
would see to it that the issue was on the agenda for the
remaining extraordinary session this year. Sargsian
acknowledged that the Dashnaks (Armenian Revolutionary
Faction),one of the governing coalition partners, would
likely vote against deployment when the issue was presented
to the NA, but assured the Ambassador that the governing
coalition had sufficient votes to approve the deployment even
without ARF support.


2. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EVANS