DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ARMENIA TRYING TO ENGAGE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000129 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN DEPT FOR OES/ENV, ATTN DAVID BROWN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016 TAGS: SENV ETRD ECON PREL PGOV AM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ARMENIA TRYING TO ENGAGE ON STRATEGIC APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT (SAICM) REF: STATE 11460 Classified By: DCM A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) On January 26, Post delivered reftel points regarding issues of concern during the final negotiations on Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM). Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations Department Head Valery Mkrtumyan told us the GOAM was engaged on the SAICM because of its regional implications and underscored that both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment Protection were involved in the issue. Minister of Environment Protection Vardan Avazyan will lead Armenia's delegation to Dubai. Mkrtumyan said he would organize a working meeting with Armenia's ICCM participants to discuss USG concerns and map out Armenia's policy. Post will follow up with Mkrtumyan to learn the results of this meeting. We also forwarded reftel points directly to the Armenian participants in the upcoming ICCM meeting from the Ministries of Health and Environment Protection. EVANS