DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNGA RESOLUTIONS ON HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001492 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2016 TAGS: UNGA LE IS PHUM PREL PTER AM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: UNGA RESOLUTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHILDREN IN LEBANON REF: STATE 176793 Classified By: Poloff Masha Herbst for reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel points to Valery Mkrtumian, the head of the Armenian MFA's International Organizations Department. Mkrtumian said "many countries" had approached the GOAM with a request to cosponsor the NAM-sponsored resolutions. "We will not cosponsor, and we will take into consideration the reservations of the U.S. side," he said. When asked whether Armenia would support the resolutions, he said that would be Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian's decision. Oskanian is not in Yerevan, and will return October 27. We will follow up with Mkrtumian after Oskanian returns. ¶2. (C) Mkrtumian said it was conceivable the GOAM would suggest a rewording of Agenda Item 63(c),"The Situation of the Lebanese Children," in order to remove a reference to the Israeli army's "task" of killing Lebanese children. He made the point that the military had not been instructed to kill children, though children had died. GODFREY