ARMENIA UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ITS POSITION ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 002006 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP, EUR/CACEN, EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR AM IR UNHRC SUBJECT: ARMENIA UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ITS POSITION ON IRAN UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE VOTE REF: A) STATE 207928 B) YEREVAN 1992 Classified By: DCM A.F.Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (C) On November 15, the Ambassador delivered reftel points regarding the UNGA Third Committee human rights resolution on Iran to Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Oskanian said he would relay reftel points, along with the Ambassador's strong encouragement to abstain on the votes, directly to President Robert Kocharian, though he was not optimistic about a change in Armenian plans to vote in favor of the No Action Motion and against the resolution. (Comment: Oskanian's response again illustrates the GOAM's continued courtship of Iranian economic and political favor (ref B). End Comment). EVANS