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