MCHR 61: MFA CONFIRMS ARMENIANS WILL VOTE WITH US

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000703 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL/MLA, WHA/CCA, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015 TAGS: PHUM AM UNHRC SUBJECT: MCHR 61: MFA CONFIRMS ARMENIANS WILL VOTE WITH US ON GUANTANAMO REF: A. YEREVAN 675 ¶B. SECSTATE 69823 Classified By: Ambassador John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d). (C) MFA International Organizations Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan told us April 20 that Armenia's mission in Geneva had received instructions to vote with the USG on any Guantanamo resolution presented at UNCHR. Mkrtumyan repeated statements made by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to the Ambassador earlier this week regarding the GOAM's support for the USG on Cuba issues at CHR (ref a). He qualified the statement of support, however, by expressing the GOAM's view that the Guantanamo issue would not be raised at CHR and that the USG was "overly concerned" about the issue. Mkrtumyan suggested that the USG delegation in Geneva should share any updates on the Cubans' plans to raise the issue with the GOAM delegation. EVANS