Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN891
2004-04-15 11:16:00
SECRET
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR RAISES CFE COMPLIANCE CONCERNS

Tags:  PARM PREL KCFE AM 
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S E C R E T YEREVAN 000891 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE AM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES CFE COMPLIANCE CONCERNS

REF: STATE 79196

Classified By: Ambassador Ordway for reasons 1.5 (b) and (D)

S E C R E T YEREVAN 000891

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE AM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES CFE COMPLIANCE CONCERNS

REF: STATE 79196

Classified By: Ambassador Ordway for reasons 1.5 (b) and (D)


1. (S) Ambassador presented points per reftel to Minister of
Defense Serge Sargsyan April 12. Sargsyan first responded by
agreeing that "it was strange" that Armenia had not declared
the MT-LBs, and it was an incident that would not be
repeated. (Note: The Armenian side freely acknowledge that
there are MT-LBs in their inventory, and the Minister seemed
taken aback by the fact they had not been declared. End
Note.) Sargsyan briefly became combative when he deduced
that the source of the information about pre-inspection
inventory was not the CFE inspection team, and denied that
any equipment had been moved. He volunteered that the
weapons system in question was not MT-LBs but Chinese-made
weapons in the Armenian arsenal; and that any pre-inspection
movements had legitimate reasons--a point the Ambassador
rebutted. Sargsyan finally conceded that perhaps some
weapons had been moved by a "strange or sick person," and
that he would look in to the matter to ensure that it did not
happen again.


2. (S) Ambassador also raised reftel points with Foreign
Minister Oskanian April 14. He could provide no further
elucidation of the issue at this time, but clearly understood
the serious situation that the country would face if the
Secretary were unable to make the CTR certification for

SIPDIS
Armenia.
ORDWAY