IRAQ FORCE ADJUSTMENT DOESN'T CHANGE ARMENIAN

S E C R E T YEREVAN 002214

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL MARR MOPS IZ AM
SUBJECT: IRAQ FORCE ADJUSTMENT DOESN'T CHANGE ARMENIAN
COMMITMENT TO COALITION

REF: A) STATE 229317 B) YEREVAN 2121

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


1. (S) The Charge d'Affaires delivered reftel points
regarding U.S. force level reductions in Iraq during December
22 meetings with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arman
Kirakossian and Deputy Minister of Defense General-Lieutenant
Artur Aghabekyan. Aghabekyan and Kirakossian both noted the
Armenian National Assembly's December 8 decision to extend
deployment of a non-combatant contingent for an additional
year (ref B),and said U.S. force level reductions would
neither effect the GOAM's decision to re-deploy nor
jeopardize Armenia's commitment to the coalition.


2. (S) Aghabekyan and Kirakossian both noted that the
"relatively small" reduction in force in comparison to the
total number of U.S. troops serving in Iraq would have
"little impact" on coalition efforts. Kirakossian told the
Charge that "Armenia will remain a steady coalition partner,"
while Aghabekyan maintained that Armenia's non-combatant
contingent -- currently preparing for a mid-January rotation
-- had no intention of backing out on its commitment.
"You'll have no problem with us," he said.
GODFREY