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