ARMENIA WILL SUPPORT US ON UZBEKISTAN RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 002039 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL/MLA, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL AM SUBJECT: ARMENIA WILL SUPPORT US ON UZBEKISTAN RESOLUTION REF: STATE 211043 Classified By: DCM A.F.Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) We delivered demarche and talking points regarding UN Third Committee country resolutions to MFA International Organizations Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan November 21 per reftel instructions. Mkrtumyan said Armenia would not support a no-action motion on Turkmenistan and pledged Armenia's support for the resolution itself. While he warned that there appeared to be "additional obstacles" before the resolution would come up for a vote, he said Armenia was decided on the issue and reassured us that the MFA's position would not change. ¶2. (C) Mkrtumyan was less confident about GOAM support for our position on the Turkmenistan resolution. While he refused to say how the GOAM would act on a no-action motion, he hinted that the best we might hope for would be another abstention on the resolution itself. He added that Turkmenistan's government "came down hard" on the GOAM for its abstaining vote on last year's resolution. Mkrtumyan cited the presence of an Armenian community in Turkmenistan as their "reason to think through repercussions" for voting with us and supporting a resolution on Turkmenistan this year. He said that Foreign Minister Oskanian (who is on travel in Los Angeles and San Francisco this week) was in touch with New York regarding the issue and would make a final decision by November 25. Comment: It has been Post's experience that the MFA is often out of the information loop when it comes to pending UN decisions while Oskanian travels abroad. Post suggests that our mission in New York maintain close contact with Armenian colleagues in New York until they have committed to a final decision. We of course will continue to press them from this side in support of this effort. EVANS