CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: ARMENIA MISSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002030

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN AND AC/CB
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015
TAGS: PARM ABUD AM AROC CWC CBW OPCW
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION: ARMENIA MISSES
NOVEMBER DEADLINE

REF: A) STATE 31912 B) YEREVAN 371

Classified By: CDA A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Following what appeared to be good progress toward
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC),
Armenian MFA Global Security and Non-Conventional Issues
Acting Division Head Karen Matirossian told us during a
recent meeting that, as he had predicted in March (ref B),
the GOAM was unable to pass implementing legislation to
fulfill its CWC Article VII obligations (ref A). "Technical
problems" had delayed the process, Matirossian told us, but
he was optimistic that legislation would be in place "by
early 2006." Matirossian's optimism may be misplaced.
Despite National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian's
promises to the contrary, it appears parliamentary leaders
have failed to follow through on CWC implementation. With
Parliament's 2005 regular session over, neither
Baghdasarian's office nor the chairman of the National
Assembly committee with jurisdiction over CWC initiatives
appears able to explain the steps the GOAM plans to take to
meet its CWC obligations. End Summary.

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"TECHNICAL PROBLEMS" DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION?
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2. (C) MFA Global Security and Non-Conventional Issues Acting
Division Head Karen Matirossian told us during a November 15
meeting that the GOAM was unable to fulfill CWC Article VII
requirements by the CWC Conference of States Parties (CSP)
November deadline (ref A). Matirossian, who in March (ref B)
expressed his doubts that Armenia could pass implementing
legislation before the CSP's 10th Session (November 7-11),
said that "technical problems" had indeed delayed the
process, but he was "optimistic that the legislation will be
in place by early 2006." He said he could not provide
further details about the "technical problems." Matirossian
also told us that, along with 32 other OPCW member countries,
Armenia is currently "trying to restore its voting rights in
the organization." Already behind on payments "for quite
some time," Armenia, "like Rwanda," hopes to defer membership
fees "for about ten years," Matirossian said.

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POLITICAL WILL TO MEET CWC REQUIREMENTS UNCLEAR
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3. (C) On May 25, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian visited the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) headquarters in The Hague with a
delegation of GOAM officials including NA Standing Committee
on Defense, National Security, and Internal Affairs Chairman
Mher Shahgeldian. According to OPCW press reports,
Baghdasarian "reaffirmed Armenia's resolve to support the
full and universal implementation of the Chemical Weapons
Convention." Shahgeldian told us Armenia is still working
toward that goal, though he said he could not explain the
current status of Parliament's CWC implementation efforts or
the future steps the government plans to take to meet its
obligations. (Note: During our first call on Shahgeldian on
November 15 he asked us if Armenia had signed the Chemical
Weapons Convention. End Note.)

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IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION NOT ON PARLIAMENT'S RADAR
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4. (C) Shahgeldian who appeared to re-engage on CWC
obligations only after our initial inquiries, told us on
November 18 that he was still trying "to find out about the
Chemical Weapons Convention" from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Varuzhan Bolorchyan, National Assembly Speaker
Baghdasarian's assistant, whom we also approached for a
summary of the GOAM's efforts to date, told us the CWC was "a
dark room" to him and that he had "no idea" about the current
status of Parliament's efforts to address its obligations.

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COMMENT: NO FOLLOW-THROUGH ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
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5. (C) We believe the GOAM's approach further illustrates the
low priority the government currently places on the threat of
chemical weapons and dual-use materials. Despite National
Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian's May 25 visit to the
OPCW in The Hague, and his reported promises to the contrary,
it appears parliamentary officials have failed to follow
through on Armenia's CWC obligations. The GOAM has not paid
its OPCW membership dues, and members of Parliament who
should be shepherding CWC implementing legislation through
the National Assembly process say they are unaware of
Armenia's obligations. As the Armenian Parliament shutters
its final regular legislative session this year, we do not
expect significant short-term progress toward Armenian CWC
implementing legislation, though we will continue to push
Matirossian, Shahgeldian, and other key parliamentarians to
work with their counterparts at the OPCW to fully implement
the convention.
GODFREY