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