UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - FOLLOW UP ON CANDIDACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000617 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, NEA/IR, AND NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016 TAGS: KUNR PHUM UNHRC PREL IR AM SUBJECT: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - FOLLOW UP ON CANDIDACY OF IRAN REF: A) STATE 68575 B) STATE 66050 C) YEREVAN 599 Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) In separate meetings on May 1 and 2, the Ambassador and DCM raised demarche points on Iran's candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council with Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian (May 1) and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baiburtian (May 2). Kirakossian told the Ambassador that Armenia had not yet determined how it would vote in the May 9 elections. Baiburtian told the DCM that the GOAM "takes very seriously U.S. Government concerns," and that Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian would make a final decision upon his return from Vilnius May 5. ¶2. (C) On May 3, Armenian MFA International Organizations Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan told poloff that Armenia would almost certainly not support Iran's candidacy, even though it would "certainly jeopardize" Armenia's "own aspirations" for the council. "Before you report that to Washington though," Mkrtumyan said, "let me check with the Foreign Minister when he returns from Vilnius." EVANS