ARMENIA PUBLICY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT DPRK

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001450 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS ISN, EAP, IO, EUR/PGI, DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PPD E.O. 12958; N/A TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KPAO KN AM SUBJECT: ARMENIA PUBLICY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT DPRK REF: YEREVAN 1425 Sensitive but unclassified. Please treat accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) In an October 12 meeting with acting MFA press spokesman Vladimir Karapetian, PAO and IO renewed our request (reftel demarche) that the Armenian MFA release an appropriate statement condemning North Korea's nuclear test. The following day, the MFA released a statement to local media, which was published without editorial comment by a number of news agencies and newspapers. ¶2. (U) Text of MFA Statement: "Furthering Armenia's commitment to the principles of nonproliferation, the Armenian Foreign Ministry expresses concerns over the nuclear tests in North Korea as it poses a threat to the region and curbs the international community's efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Armenian Foreign Ministry hopes that the North Korean authorities will come to terms with the international community and the problem will be resolved through peaceful talks by halting the danger of a further nuclear arms race." GODFREY