DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001845

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP RAYMOND HOTZ, EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: PREL IS AM UNGA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

REF: STATE 188933

Classified By: DCM A.F.Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

(C) We delivered demarche talking points on opposing
anti-Israel bias at the UN to MFA International Organizations
Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan and Human Rights Acting
Department Chief Tigran Samvelian on October 12 per reftel
instructions. During a discussion of Armenia's voting record
on the issue, Mkrtumyan disagreed with our assessment that
Armenia's "yes" votes could be understood as out of synch
with USG goals at UNGA. He suggested that the USG should
consider Armenia's abstention vote last year as a sign of
solidarity with Washington's UNGA goals. Mkrtumyan repeated
the MFA's traditional talking point on this issue, stating
that Armenia's geographic position "in the Middle Eastern
neighborhood" and the need to maintain political alliances
with a wide range of nations made this a sensitive subject
for the MFA. Mkrtumyan promised to relay our demarche points
to Armenia's PermRep in New York but would not commit to any
modification in Armenia's position during this UNGA.
Comment: The Armenians are generally receptive to our points
on UN reform. Couching this issue in terms of updating or
eliminating UN structures with outdated mandates may be our
best course of action if we are to get the MFA to vote with
us this year.
EVANS