Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06YEREVAN295
2006-03-01 12:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
ARMENIA: ANXIOUS NOT TO CONFRONT IRAN ON NUCLEAR
how-toVZCZCXRO3335 RR RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHYE #0295 0601245 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 011245Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2561 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEANFA/NRC WASHDC RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0050
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000295
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PRA, ISN/RA, AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: KNNP ENRG PARM PREL IR RS AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: ANXIOUS NOT TO CONFRONT IRAN ON NUCLEAR
REACTORS, CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS
REF: A) STATE 31059 B) YEREVAN 281 C) YEREVAN 213
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000295
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PRA, ISN/RA, AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: KNNP ENRG PARM PREL IR RS AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: ANXIOUS NOT TO CONFRONT IRAN ON NUCLEAR
REACTORS, CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS
REF: A) STATE 31059 B) YEREVAN 281 C) YEREVAN 213
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref A points regarding Iran's
application for membership in the Association of State
Nuclear Authorities of Countries Operating VVER-type Reactors
during separate calls on Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan and
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian February 28.
Sitting in with Kirakossian, MFA Arms Control and
International Security Advisor Vartuhi Asaturian told the
Ambassador that the GOAM would wait to decide on Armenia's
next steps until the results of the March 6 IAEA meeting and
subsequent action, if any, the United Nations Security
Council would take. Kirakossian (again) explained that
association members had agreed to invite IRAN to participate
in the June 2006 meeting well in advance of Armenia's
chairmanship (ref C),placing the GOAM in a difficult
position. Kirakossian added that both China (which is party
to the Nonproliferation Treaty and operates "one or more"
VVER reactors) and India (which has neither signed the NPT
nor currently operates VVER reactors) have also applied for
membership, complicating efforts to single out Iran.
2. (C) Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan, one of President
Robert Kocharian's chief negotiators on energy issues with
Iran (ref B),did not offer immediate reaction to the
Ambassador's request beyond noting Armenia's "strategic
interest" in maintaining solid relations with energy-rich
Iran.
--------------
COMMENT: DEMARCHE MAY FORCE ARMENIA'S HAND
--------------
3. (C) With Russian and U.S. opposition to Iran's membership
on the one hand, and the GOAM's courtship of Iranian energy
supplies and investment on the other, the GOAM has put itself
in a difficult position. Though we will continue to push,
our GOAM interlocutors tell us they prefer to follow
consensus on contentious issues. We do not expect the GOAM
to lead the charge against Iran's membership, but we believe
that active lobbying against IRAN by other member states may
provide the GOAM some political cover to avoid confrontation.
EVANS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PRA, ISN/RA, AND NEA/ARPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016
TAGS: KNNP ENRG PARM PREL IR RS AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: ANXIOUS NOT TO CONFRONT IRAN ON NUCLEAR
REACTORS, CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS
REF: A) STATE 31059 B) YEREVAN 281 C) YEREVAN 213
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref A points regarding Iran's
application for membership in the Association of State
Nuclear Authorities of Countries Operating VVER-type Reactors
during separate calls on Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan and
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian February 28.
Sitting in with Kirakossian, MFA Arms Control and
International Security Advisor Vartuhi Asaturian told the
Ambassador that the GOAM would wait to decide on Armenia's
next steps until the results of the March 6 IAEA meeting and
subsequent action, if any, the United Nations Security
Council would take. Kirakossian (again) explained that
association members had agreed to invite IRAN to participate
in the June 2006 meeting well in advance of Armenia's
chairmanship (ref C),placing the GOAM in a difficult
position. Kirakossian added that both China (which is party
to the Nonproliferation Treaty and operates "one or more"
VVER reactors) and India (which has neither signed the NPT
nor currently operates VVER reactors) have also applied for
membership, complicating efforts to single out Iran.
2. (C) Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan, one of President
Robert Kocharian's chief negotiators on energy issues with
Iran (ref B),did not offer immediate reaction to the
Ambassador's request beyond noting Armenia's "strategic
interest" in maintaining solid relations with energy-rich
Iran.
--------------
COMMENT: DEMARCHE MAY FORCE ARMENIA'S HAND
--------------
3. (C) With Russian and U.S. opposition to Iran's membership
on the one hand, and the GOAM's courtship of Iranian energy
supplies and investment on the other, the GOAM has put itself
in a difficult position. Though we will continue to push,
our GOAM interlocutors tell us they prefer to follow
consensus on contentious issues. We do not expect the GOAM
to lead the charge against Iran's membership, but we believe
that active lobbying against IRAN by other member states may
provide the GOAM some political cover to avoid confrontation.
EVANS