ARMENIAN RESPONSE TO PSI AND UNSCR 1718 DEMARCHE

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001566

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PRA, EUR/PGI, ISN, AND T

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL PHSA EWWT EAIR PBTS ETTC AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN RESPONSE TO PSI AND UNSCR 1718 DEMARCHE

REF: A) STATE 179472 B) YEREVAN 1518


1. (SBU) Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian sent the
embassy a reply to Under Secretary Joseph's letter (ref A) on
PSI. Kirakossian reaffirmed Armenia's support for the PSI
and the Statement of Interdiction Principles. He also
commented on Armenia's record of non-proliferation
cooperation with the USG and elsewhere.


2. (SBU) Full text of Kirakossian letter:

Dear Mr. Joseph,

I am in the receipt of your letter dated October 30, 2006.
The national policy of the Republic of Armenia with regard to
the weapons of mass destruction is clear and consistent
and is based on a serious and genuine commitment to
nonproliferation objectives and principles. On September 24,
1991, just three days after Armenia declared its
independence, the Armenian Parliament adopted a decision to
abide by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear
Weapons.

One of the cornerstones of the national security strategy of
the Republic of Armenia has always been fostering cooperation
with the member countries of the international
nonproliferation regimes. The Republic of Armenia is a
signatory to the Hague Code of Conduct on Ballistic Missiles
and we also strongly adhere to the goals of other
international export control regimes. A sound proof of that
was the adoption in September 2003 of the "Law on export
control of dual-use items and technologies and the transit
through the territory of the Republic of Armenia," which took
into consideration all relevant guidelines of existing
multinational export control regimes.

In the context of combating the WMD, I would like to
specifically mention the Agreement between the Government of
the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the United
States of America concerning cooperation in the area of
counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction signed
in Washington on July 24, 2000. We highly value this
Agreement, as it opened the way to a number of specific
projects and arrangements between the competent authorities
of each country.

On March 24, 2006, the Republic of Armenia declared its
adherence to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and
the Statement of Interdiction Principles of September
4, 2003.

The Republic of Armenia highly appreciates the efforts of the
U.S. government in the field of nonproliferation and its
willingness to develop the regional radiation detection
architecture.

Our government is ready to actively cooperate with the
international community and particularly with the U.S.
government in order to effectively implement the principles
of UNSCR 1718.

Sincerely,
Arman Kirakossian
Deputy Foreign Minister
GODFREY