ARMENIA DRAGS ITS FEET ON PROLIFERATION SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001298

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NP/RSA, T, EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2015
TAGS: MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA DRAGS ITS FEET ON PROLIFERATION SECURITY
INITIATIVE

REF: A) STATE 88984 B) YEREVAN 865

Classified By: CDA A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b/d)

(C) Although in May the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
told the Ambassador that Armenia would respond positively to
our request for a political endorsement of the statement of
interdiction principles, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
unduly dragged its feet on finalizing the dipnote. "The
wheels are turning, but it still looks positive" said Armen
Yedigarian on July 11, the point of contact on this issue.
Nevertheless, early promises of an answer by June 1 have
faded into ambivalent replies about interagency process. We
continue to remind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the
proliferation security initiative and endorsement of the
statement of interdiction principles remain a large priority
for the USG.
GODFREY