ICRC: ARMENIA TO SUPPORT THIRD ADDITIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000602

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: AORC PHUM PREF PREL AM SZ ICRC
SUBJECT: ICRC: ARMENIA TO SUPPORT THIRD ADDITIONAL
PROTOCOL, OBJECTS TO TURKEY REGIONAL OFFICE

REF: A. STATE 63865


B. 05 YEREVAN 02028

Classified By: DCM A.F. Godfrey for reason 1.4 (c, d)


1. (SBU) We delivered reftel points regarding the Third
Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions to DFM Armen
Baiburtian and MFA International Organizations Department
Head Valery Mkrtumyan. Mkrtumyan told us that Armenia planned
to sign the Protocol and to support changing the statutes of
the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.


2. (C) Taking the opportunity to discuss other issues
related to the Red Cross, Baiburtian said that the ICRC
Regional Director Stefan Steebacher recently reported the
ICRC's plans to open a regional office in Ankara which would
cover Armenia, as well as other Caucasus and Central Asian
states. Baiburtian said "we can't accept a proposal for a
regional director in a country with which we do not have
diplomatic relations." Armenia would prefer locating the
regional director in Budapest, Geneva or Brussels. The DCM
told Baiburtian that we saw regional assignments like this as
a lever for Armenia to open relations with Turkey. The
Armenian representative at the Black Sea Economic Forum --
based in Istanbul -- was a good example.
EVANS