ARMENIAN MFA: IRAQ ENTERS NEW PHASE FOLLOWING

UNCLAS YEREVAN 002192

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN MFA: IRAQ ENTERS NEW PHASE FOLLOWING
COUNCIL ELECTIONS

REF: A) STATE 225860 B) YEREVAN 2183 C) YEREVAN 2157


1. (SBU) Despite early indications that the GOAM may avoid
public statements congratulating Iraqi authorities on
successful Council of Representatives elections (ref B),MFA
Spokesman Hamlet Gasparyan released a December 17 press
statement commending the elections as "an important step in
building a new Iraq," and reiterating Armenia's "commitment
to support reconstruction." "We are hopeful that the newly
elected parliament would succeed in furthering democratic
processes and would contribute to the unity of the nation,"
Gasparyan said in the short press statement.


2. (SBU) Gasparyan's remarks came in response to questions
about the Iraqi election from state-run Armenpress News
Agency. Hayastani Hanrapetutyun and Respublika Armenii,
government Armenian- and Russian-language newspapers (with an
estimated circulation of less than ten thousand combined)
published the statement on December 20 without editorial
comment.

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COMMENT: ARMENIAN STATEMENT REFLECTS OUR REQUEST
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3. (SBU) We believe Gasparyan's statement represents a
genuine effort on the part of the MFA to act on our ref A
request, despite the GOAM's sensitive position vis-a-vis its
own elections problems (ref C).
GODFREY