Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YEREVAN782
2007-06-15 12:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
FM OSKANIAN ON PUTIN'S GABALA STATION MISSILE
how-toVZCZCXRO6462 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHYE #0782 1661200 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151200Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5790 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000782
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL KMDR AM AJ RU
SUBJECT: FM OSKANIAN ON PUTIN'S GABALA STATION MISSILE
DEFENSE PROPOSAL
Classified By: Steve Banks, Pol/Econ chief, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000782
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL KMDR AM AJ RU
SUBJECT: FM OSKANIAN ON PUTIN'S GABALA STATION MISSILE
DEFENSE PROPOSAL
Classified By: Steve Banks, Pol/Econ chief, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Several Armenian media outlets quoted Foreign Minister
Oskanian's comments on the Gabala idea during his interview
on Kentron television. Oskanian commented that he saw no
physical danger to Armenia from the proposed project, noting
that the facility would only be a radar station, not an
interceptor launch site. Oskanian said that there would be
risks to Azerbaijan from such a proposal, and said "if we
(Armenia) received such a proposal, I would recommend the
president and government turn it down, as it can make the
country vulnerable." He also opined that such an arrangement
would make Azerbaijan into a "playing card" in the hands of
Russia and the United States, while worsening Azerbaijan's
relations with Iran, as "the USA does not conceal that all
this is aimed against Iran." He did concede the possibility
that the proposal could create a political disadvantage for
Armenia, and said the government was studying the
implications. Overall, the issue got only moderate play in
local media, with Oskanian's remarks on the subject picked up
by Mediamax, Noyan Tapan, and Arminfo electonic news
services, and by the Respublika Russian-language newspaper.
2. (C) During his lunch with MCC Ambassador Danilovich,
Oskanian echoed the same themes on the Gabala idea. He
suggested that Azerbaijani FM Mammedyarov -- who was
"excited, just at the mention" of the possibility -- had
gloated to Oskanian a little bit in St. Petersburg on the
margins of the Minsk Group discussions, "thinking I would be
jealous." Oskanian said he had also told Mammedyarov Armenia
would not take such an opportunity if it were offered.
Oskanian said he thought that the idea would be unhelpful in
the broader context of regional stability and militarization
of the Caucasus. He said that Iran would consider the plan a
"hostile act."
3. (C) Oskanian conveyed an attitude of unconcern,
dismissing the likelihood that this Gabala element would ever
be brought to fruition. He cited a Financial Times article
(we presume the June 7 piece headlined "Putin Calls US Bluff
with Base Offer") in pointing out that the Gabala proposal
may not fit geographically with the proposed system, and in
any case is more about Russian posturing than a serious
concept.
GODFREY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL KMDR AM AJ RU
SUBJECT: FM OSKANIAN ON PUTIN'S GABALA STATION MISSILE
DEFENSE PROPOSAL
Classified By: Steve Banks, Pol/Econ chief, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Several Armenian media outlets quoted Foreign Minister
Oskanian's comments on the Gabala idea during his interview
on Kentron television. Oskanian commented that he saw no
physical danger to Armenia from the proposed project, noting
that the facility would only be a radar station, not an
interceptor launch site. Oskanian said that there would be
risks to Azerbaijan from such a proposal, and said "if we
(Armenia) received such a proposal, I would recommend the
president and government turn it down, as it can make the
country vulnerable." He also opined that such an arrangement
would make Azerbaijan into a "playing card" in the hands of
Russia and the United States, while worsening Azerbaijan's
relations with Iran, as "the USA does not conceal that all
this is aimed against Iran." He did concede the possibility
that the proposal could create a political disadvantage for
Armenia, and said the government was studying the
implications. Overall, the issue got only moderate play in
local media, with Oskanian's remarks on the subject picked up
by Mediamax, Noyan Tapan, and Arminfo electonic news
services, and by the Respublika Russian-language newspaper.
2. (C) During his lunch with MCC Ambassador Danilovich,
Oskanian echoed the same themes on the Gabala idea. He
suggested that Azerbaijani FM Mammedyarov -- who was
"excited, just at the mention" of the possibility -- had
gloated to Oskanian a little bit in St. Petersburg on the
margins of the Minsk Group discussions, "thinking I would be
jealous." Oskanian said he had also told Mammedyarov Armenia
would not take such an opportunity if it were offered.
Oskanian said he thought that the idea would be unhelpful in
the broader context of regional stability and militarization
of the Caucasus. He said that Iran would consider the plan a
"hostile act."
3. (C) Oskanian conveyed an attitude of unconcern,
dismissing the likelihood that this Gabala element would ever
be brought to fruition. He cited a Financial Times article
(we presume the June 7 piece headlined "Putin Calls US Bluff
with Base Offer") in pointing out that the Gabala proposal
may not fit geographically with the proposed system, and in
any case is more about Russian posturing than a serious
concept.
GODFREY