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