GOAM ON CHR 60 CUBA AND CHINA RESOLUTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000699 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, I/O, DRL, WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2014 TAGS: PHUM CH CU AM UNHCR SUBJECT: GOAM ON CHR 60 CUBA AND CHINA RESOLUTIONS REF: A) STATE 62815 B) YEREVAN 660 Classified By: Political/Economic Chief Cynthia Doell for reasons 1.5 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We delivered demarche and talking points to the MFA Chief of International Organizations Department Valery Mkrtumian March 22 and Head of Americas Department Lilit Toutkhalian March 23 per instructions in reftel A. Both Mkrtumian and Toutkhalian reiterated comments made by FM Oskanian during his March 15 conversation with Ambassador Ordway suggesting that Armenia was unwilling to make early commitments with respect to country-specific resolutions. Mkrtumian mentioned Armenia's CHR candidacy as the primary reason for this strategy. As during meetings earlier this year, however, Mkrtumian suggested that the GOAM could eventually support the Cuba resolution. He suggested that the GOAM's decision would be easier once a draft resolution were distributed among capitals. ¶2. (C) Both Mkrtumian and Toutkhalian asked the Embassy to convey to Washington what a "delicate" position the GOAM found itself in given its CHR candidacy. We reviewed the human rights situations in both country and suggested to the MFA that a principled stand on gross human rights violations would only help its image (and candidacy) within the international community as a serious interlocutor on these issues. WALKER