ARMENIAN MOD TAKES "NO" FOR AN ANSWER

S E C R E T YEREVAN 000085

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/PRA (CONLON) AND NP/ECNP (PARSON)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2015
TAGS: PARM PREL AM IR
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN MOD TAKES "NO" FOR AN ANSWER

REF: STATE 9755

Classified By: Amb. John Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (S) Summary: Armenia will comply with a USG request (ref)
and will refrain from proceeding with a transfer to Iran of
an anti-air missile system. End Summary.


2. (S) Ambassador met privately with Armenian Minister of
Defense Serzh Sargsian January 19 and conveyed points
contained reftel. Sargsian said simply "If the answer is no,
then we won't do it."


3. (S) Sargsian said he would be traveling to Iran in the
first part of February at the invitation of Hassan Ruhani,
his counterpart as the Chairman of Iran's National Security
Council. Sargsian noted that Ruhani, though a Muslim cleric,
was "more intelligent and sensible" than some of his
colleagues, and would be mounting a campaign to become Iran's
next president. Sargsian, who some observers expect will run
for President in 2008, said he last visited Iran two years
ago.
EVANS