Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN786
2004-04-02 01:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000786
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-MLOGSDON AND
SRUEDY, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC,
EUR/SE
E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC PGOV PREL KPAO AM
SUBJECT: REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESS
CONFERENCE BY MAJOR GENERAL JEFFERY KOHLER
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000786
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-MLOGSDON AND
SRUEDY, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC,
EUR/SE
E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC PGOV PREL KPAO AM
SUBJECT: REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESS
CONFERENCE BY MAJOR GENERAL JEFFERY KOHLER
1. SUMMARY: Major General Jeffery Kohler, the Director
of Plans and Policy for the U.S. European Command, paid
a two-day visit to Armenia on March 30-31. Immediately
before departure he gave a press conference, with more
than twenty media outlets participating. The TV
reports were mainly factual, while papers carried some
editorials. In general the reaction of the media to
the press conference was positive. The following is
the summary of the articles. END SUMMARY
THE UNITED STATES WILL RESTORE SANCTIONS
IF THERE IS MILITARY ACTION ON THE BORDER
2. Opposition newspaper ARAVOT (04/01) published a
mainly factual report on the press conference. "As to
the murder of the Armenian officer in Budapest, Mr.
Kohler refrained from commenting on the question and
left it to the Hungarian authorities." "Jeffrey Kohler
stated with special emphasis that the program
[Partnership for Peace] consists of two main words -
partnership and peace."
WHY DID THE GENERAL COME
3. Opposition newspaper HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK (04/01)
focused on the sanctions that the U.S. might use should
there be a resumption of military action on the contact
line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan. "By saying
sanctions he meant the block on U.S. military support
provided to Armenia and Azerbaijan, which was lifted
two years ago. The answer by the Major General was
given in relation to the recent statement Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage made two days ago
SIPDIS
in Baku. According to the Azeri press, the Deputy
Secretary of State expressed concern over the delay in
SIPDIS
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and,
underlining the recent clashes that took place in
Kosovo, said that in the current situation there might
also be military action on the border of Karabakh. In
this case it was very important that Major General
Jeffery Kohler, the Director of Plans and Policy for
the U.S. European Command, did not try to refute the
possibility of military action on the border of
Karabakh. He just pointed out that the policy of the
U.S. government regarding the Karabakh conflict is that
it should be resolved by peaceful means." "It could be
assumed from the General's words that, should military
action start up again on the Karabakh border line, the
conflicting sides would have to forget about
cooperation with the U.S., especially the side that
starts the conflict."
ARMENIANS CAN BE PROUD OF THEIR PEACEKEEPERS
4. Dashnak-affiliated HAYOTS ASHKHAR daily (04/01) "It
is not clear why J. Kohler avoided speaking about the
murder of the Armenian lieutenant, leaving the answer
to the Hungarian officials. He spoke more distinctly on
the issue of changing the venue for the "Cooperative
Best Effort - 2004" exercises, which are expected to be
held in Azerbaijan. The Major General stressed that the
issue is not within the competence of the U.S. European
Command, noting this issue belongs to NATO. It is to be
mentioned that Major General Jeffery Kohler, the
Director of Plans and Policy for the U.S. European
Command, was saying that he has no direct relation to
NATO-related issues. We would like to draw attention
to this fact, taking into account a recent publication
in one of the local papers with its `deep and serious'
analysis saying that it can be concluded that Kohler's
visit to Armenia is connected with Armenia's membership
in NATO and certain guarantees that need to be heard
from the Armenian side. However, it is obvious that
even if it were necessary to address such topics, the
Armenian authorities would not talk to J. Kohler about
any NATO-related issues. It has been frequently
mentioned at the highest levels that Armenia is simply
cooperating with NATO within the Partnership for Peace
program and has no intention to join that
organization." "Judging from everything he said it can
be assumed that Jeffrey Kohler liked Armenia."
WALKER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-MLOGSDON AND
SRUEDY, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC,
EUR/SE
E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC PGOV PREL KPAO AM
SUBJECT: REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESS
CONFERENCE BY MAJOR GENERAL JEFFERY KOHLER
1. SUMMARY: Major General Jeffery Kohler, the Director
of Plans and Policy for the U.S. European Command, paid
a two-day visit to Armenia on March 30-31. Immediately
before departure he gave a press conference, with more
than twenty media outlets participating. The TV
reports were mainly factual, while papers carried some
editorials. In general the reaction of the media to
the press conference was positive. The following is
the summary of the articles. END SUMMARY
THE UNITED STATES WILL RESTORE SANCTIONS
IF THERE IS MILITARY ACTION ON THE BORDER
2. Opposition newspaper ARAVOT (04/01) published a
mainly factual report on the press conference. "As to
the murder of the Armenian officer in Budapest, Mr.
Kohler refrained from commenting on the question and
left it to the Hungarian authorities." "Jeffrey Kohler
stated with special emphasis that the program
[Partnership for Peace] consists of two main words -
partnership and peace."
WHY DID THE GENERAL COME
3. Opposition newspaper HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK (04/01)
focused on the sanctions that the U.S. might use should
there be a resumption of military action on the contact
line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan. "By saying
sanctions he meant the block on U.S. military support
provided to Armenia and Azerbaijan, which was lifted
two years ago. The answer by the Major General was
given in relation to the recent statement Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage made two days ago
SIPDIS
in Baku. According to the Azeri press, the Deputy
Secretary of State expressed concern over the delay in
SIPDIS
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and,
underlining the recent clashes that took place in
Kosovo, said that in the current situation there might
also be military action on the border of Karabakh. In
this case it was very important that Major General
Jeffery Kohler, the Director of Plans and Policy for
the U.S. European Command, did not try to refute the
possibility of military action on the border of
Karabakh. He just pointed out that the policy of the
U.S. government regarding the Karabakh conflict is that
it should be resolved by peaceful means." "It could be
assumed from the General's words that, should military
action start up again on the Karabakh border line, the
conflicting sides would have to forget about
cooperation with the U.S., especially the side that
starts the conflict."
ARMENIANS CAN BE PROUD OF THEIR PEACEKEEPERS
4. Dashnak-affiliated HAYOTS ASHKHAR daily (04/01) "It
is not clear why J. Kohler avoided speaking about the
murder of the Armenian lieutenant, leaving the answer
to the Hungarian officials. He spoke more distinctly on
the issue of changing the venue for the "Cooperative
Best Effort - 2004" exercises, which are expected to be
held in Azerbaijan. The Major General stressed that the
issue is not within the competence of the U.S. European
Command, noting this issue belongs to NATO. It is to be
mentioned that Major General Jeffery Kohler, the
Director of Plans and Policy for the U.S. European
Command, was saying that he has no direct relation to
NATO-related issues. We would like to draw attention
to this fact, taking into account a recent publication
in one of the local papers with its `deep and serious'
analysis saying that it can be concluded that Kohler's
visit to Armenia is connected with Armenia's membership
in NATO and certain guarantees that need to be heard
from the Armenian side. However, it is obvious that
even if it were necessary to address such topics, the
Armenian authorities would not talk to J. Kohler about
any NATO-related issues. It has been frequently
mentioned at the highest levels that Armenia is simply
cooperating with NATO within the Partnership for Peace
program and has no intention to join that
organization." "Judging from everything he said it can
be assumed that Jeffrey Kohler liked Armenia."
WALKER