SEEING EYE TO EYE WITH THE GOAM ON UNCHR, UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000398

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN EUGENIA SIDEREAS, IO, WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM UNGA
SUBJECT: SEEING EYE TO EYE WITH THE GOAM ON UNCHR, UNGA
ISSUES

REF: DUBLIN 00135

Classified By: Ambassador John Ordway for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

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GOAM WITH US ON CUBA?
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1. (C) We discussed UNCHR issues and ways to more effectively
pursue continuing USG policy priorities at the UN with MFA UN
Division Chief Artak Apitonian February 11 (reftel).
Apitonian credited the apparent decline in USG-GOAM voting
coincidence during the 58th UNGA as a reaction to "more
aggressive USG multilateral approaches on the Middle East"
rather than fundamental disagreements on policy. He
emphasized the GOAM's previous voting record and 2003 record
on disarmament issues as indicative of an overall cooperative
relationship with the USG in Geneva and New York. He
predicted that the GOAM would support more USG initiatives
during 2004 through fewer absention votes and possible
co-sponsorship of key resolutions. He hinted that the GOAM
might be able to support the USG on this year's Cuba
resolution if approached with enough advance notice.

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EARLIER DEMARCHES USEFUL
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2. (C) Apitonian said there was broad agreement among GOAM
representatives in Yerevan and New York that the proposed
Democracy Caucus would offer a "less politicized" forum in
which the GOAM could openly support USG-proposed measures
without the fear of pressure or backlash from the Non-Aligned
States (NAS). He suggested, however, that the USG could
better engage the GOAM on CHR issues this year if it would
demarche the MFA, in addition to representatives in Geneva,
earlier in the process. He claimed that the FM and Deputy
Ministers had been increasingly active on multilateral issues
over the past year and predicted a relative decline in the
importance of the GOAM's missions in Geneva and New York as
this trend continues.

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COMMENT
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3. (C) The MFA's heightened interest in multilateral
mechanics is due in part to Armenia's current candidature for
re-election to the CHR, which the GOAM views as its highest
profile ambition on the multilateral scene. The MFA's
multilateral department is at long last fully staffed and
generally responsive to Embassy requests. Engaging early and
often with the MFA will no doubt help counterbalance voting
pressure from the NAS and European countries. Post requests
Department assistance in identifying which issues it can
preview with the GOAM to lay the groundwork for better CHR
and UNGA cooperation this year.
ORDWAY