Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06YEREVAN1683
2006-12-06 14:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REAUTHORIZES IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHYE #1683 3401412 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 061412Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4516 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0016 RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//J5// RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//J2/J5/HSE//
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001683
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL AM IZ
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REAUTHORIZES IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
FOR ANOTHER YEAR
REF: A. A) YEREVAN 1677
B. B) USDAO YEREVAN 201320Z NOV 06
C. C) USDAO YEREVAN 011403Z DEC 06
UNCLAS YEREVAN 001683
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL AM IZ
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REAUTHORIZES IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
FOR ANOTHER YEAR
REF: A. A) YEREVAN 1677
B. B) USDAO YEREVAN 201320Z NOV 06
C. C) USDAO YEREVAN 011403Z DEC 06
1. The National Assembly voted December 6 to reauthorize the
Armenia's troop deployment to Iraq. The 85-19 vote followed
two days of vigorous debate, and the personal appearance of
Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian who debated with some
skeptical deputies the wisdom of the deployment on the
parliament floor. Sargsian portrayed Armenia's continued
deployment as important to maintaining Armenia's credibility
as a reliable partner of the United States and the
international community. He also pointed out that Armenia's
contribution is modest in comparison to the troop deployments
of regional rivals Azerbaijan and Georgia, each of which have
sent both larger contingents and combatant troops to Iraq.
The junior governing coalition partner, the nationalist ARF
Dashnaktsutyun party, joined the parties of the "Justice"
opposition alliance in opposition to the deployment
extension. The ARF concern is that Armenia's deployment
potentially endangers ethnic-Armenian minority populations in
nearby Arab states, in which the U.S.-led troop presence in
Iraq is unpopular.
2. Armenia's contingent of almost 50 soldiers
(doctors/medics, deminers, and truck drivers) are attached to
the Polish-commanded Multi-National Division-Central South
(MND-CS). Armenia is on its fourth six-month troop rotation
in Iraq. Armenia suffered its first Iraq casualty November
11, when First Lieutenant Nalbandian lost part of a leg to an
IED attack (Ref B).
3. COMMENT: Sargsian's recent Iraq visit to the Armenian
troops and with U.S. and Iraqi commanders (Ref C) enhanced
both his personal commitment and domestic political
credibility on the Iraq deployment issue. Sargsian's ruling
Republican Party's overwhelming control of the National
Assembly, combined with Sargsian's personal backing, led to
the lopsided vote in favor of the deployment extension. The
outcome belies a significant strain of skepticism among
Armenian parliamentarians, and generally negative public
opinion, about the wisdom of putting Armenian troops into
harm's way in Iraq.
GODFREY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL AM IZ
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT REAUTHORIZES IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
FOR ANOTHER YEAR
REF: A. A) YEREVAN 1677
B. B) USDAO YEREVAN 201320Z NOV 06
C. C) USDAO YEREVAN 011403Z DEC 06
1. The National Assembly voted December 6 to reauthorize the
Armenia's troop deployment to Iraq. The 85-19 vote followed
two days of vigorous debate, and the personal appearance of
Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian who debated with some
skeptical deputies the wisdom of the deployment on the
parliament floor. Sargsian portrayed Armenia's continued
deployment as important to maintaining Armenia's credibility
as a reliable partner of the United States and the
international community. He also pointed out that Armenia's
contribution is modest in comparison to the troop deployments
of regional rivals Azerbaijan and Georgia, each of which have
sent both larger contingents and combatant troops to Iraq.
The junior governing coalition partner, the nationalist ARF
Dashnaktsutyun party, joined the parties of the "Justice"
opposition alliance in opposition to the deployment
extension. The ARF concern is that Armenia's deployment
potentially endangers ethnic-Armenian minority populations in
nearby Arab states, in which the U.S.-led troop presence in
Iraq is unpopular.
2. Armenia's contingent of almost 50 soldiers
(doctors/medics, deminers, and truck drivers) are attached to
the Polish-commanded Multi-National Division-Central South
(MND-CS). Armenia is on its fourth six-month troop rotation
in Iraq. Armenia suffered its first Iraq casualty November
11, when First Lieutenant Nalbandian lost part of a leg to an
IED attack (Ref B).
3. COMMENT: Sargsian's recent Iraq visit to the Armenian
troops and with U.S. and Iraqi commanders (Ref C) enhanced
both his personal commitment and domestic political
credibility on the Iraq deployment issue. Sargsian's ruling
Republican Party's overwhelming control of the National
Assembly, combined with Sargsian's personal backing, led to
the lopsided vote in favor of the deployment extension. The
outcome belies a significant strain of skepticism among
Armenian parliamentarians, and generally negative public
opinion, about the wisdom of putting Armenian troops into
harm's way in Iraq.
GODFREY