Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05YEREVAN1969
2005-11-07 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

FOREIGN MINISTER'S PUBLIC STATEMENT ON IRANIAN

Tags:  PREL PTER PHUM IR AM 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

071346Z Nov 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001969 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM IR AM
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER'S PUBLIC STATEMENT ON IRANIAN
PRESIDENT'S ANTI-ISRAELI RHETORIC

REF: A) STATE 199225 B) YEREVAN 1930

Classified By: Ambassador John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001969

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM IR AM
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER'S PUBLIC STATEMENT ON IRANIAN
PRESIDENT'S ANTI-ISRAELI RHETORIC

REF: A) STATE 199225 B) YEREVAN 1930

Classified By: Ambassador John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (U) On November 5, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian told students and reporters at Yerevan State
University that Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's recent
statement regarding Israel "will have no impact on
Armenian-Iranian relations." Oskanian told the audience that
"Israeli issues have never been on the agenda of the
Armenian-Iranian political dialogue."


2. (C) In contrast, on November 1 Oskanian told the
Ambassador that he expected Armenian Presidential Chief of
Staff Artashes Tumanian would "caution the Iranians" (ref B)
about inflammatory anti-Israeli rhetoric during his upcoming
visit to Tehran for the next session of the Iran-Armenia
Joint Economic Commission. He said the GOAM had considered
canceling or postponing the session, but decided in the end
not to do so.


3. (C) Comment: Despite Oskanian's assurances, we cannot be
sure that Tumanian will deliver the Armenian message of
caution to his Iranian interlocutors, or, if he does, how
forceful that message will be. Oskanian's public/private
contradiction may be intended to balance Armenian concern for
placating the USG and Armenian desire to keep deepening
economic and political relations with Iran on track.
Ahmadi-Nejad's recent commitment to recognize the events of
1915 in Ottoman Turkey as "genocide," has likely also
contributed to Armenia's reluctance to upset the relationship.
EVANS