C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001363

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA UN AM
SUBJECT: UN 3RD COMMITTEE: ARMENIA WITH US ON N.KOREA,
BURMA; NOT SO ON IRAN, BELARUS

REF: A. STATE 157023


B. STATE 145641

Classified By: Polchief Steve Banks, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Polchief spoke with MFA International Organizations
director Dziunik Agahjanian, conveying demarche points
(reftels). Aghajanian affirmed that Armenia remains
committed to voting just as it did on these issues last year.
Specifically, Armenia will vote for a "no action" resolution
on Iran. It will not participate in a "no action" vote on
Belarus, but will vote against the substantive Belarus
resolution if it comes up for vote. Armenia will support the
U.S. postion on Burma and the DPRK.


2. (C) Armenia's split decision, as outlined above, provides
an example of how Armenia sees its own intersts. It is happy
to support the U.S. position on far-away Burma and North
Korea, with which it has few equities. Neighboring Iran is
seen as too important to Armenia's interests, while Belarus
-- less directly important to Armenia -- is still a fellow
member of the CIS club.
PENNINGTON