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