Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YEREVAN1012
2008-12-16 16:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
ARMENIA TO BACK EGYPT'S CULTURE MINISTER FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO8440 PP RUEHRN DE RUEHYE #1012 3511638 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161638Z DEC 08 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8423 INFO RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 0002 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0086 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0152 RUEHFR/USMISSION UNESCO PARIS 0001
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001012
SIPDIS
IO/UNESCO (KSIEKMAN)
//// C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED PREL TAG ////
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PREL UNESCO AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA TO BACK EGYPT'S CULTURE MINISTER FOR
UNESCO DG
REF: STATE 130916
Classified By: DCM Joseph Pennington for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001012
SIPDIS
IO/UNESCO (KSIEKMAN)
//// C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED PREL TAG ////
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PREL UNESCO AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA TO BACK EGYPT'S CULTURE MINISTER FOR
UNESCO DG
REF: STATE 130916
Classified By: DCM Joseph Pennington for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Acting Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on
December 16 to Tziunik Aghajanian, Director of International
Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aghajanian
said Armenia has long committed to supporting the candidacy
of Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni to be the next
UNESCO Director General.
2. (C) Armenia did so for two reasons, according to
Aghajanian: a) to maintain positive bilateral relations with
a key Arab state where Armenia has a large and vibrant
Diaspora and ample cultural heritage; and b) to support
diverse regional candidates for the post. When asked to
reconsider Armenia's position, Aghajanian replied that while
sensitive to the United States' contrarian views of Hosni,
this was a case where Egyptian diplomacy was way out in front
very early on. She stated that the Egyptians had contacted
Armenia on this issue as far back as 2007, before she assumed
her position. Aghajanian said Armenia would not change its
position now, and that it had also been approached by the
Bulgarians in September to support their candidate, which
they also had to decline.
3. (C) COMMENT: As post has previously reported on various
occasions, the GOAM is traditionally quite conservative in
its diplomacy with the Arab world, given the fact of its
large Diaspora in the Middle East and Yerevan being loathe to
draw unwanted attention to Christian Armenians residing
there. In the case of Egypt, Armenia boasts an active and
prominent Diaspora in Cairo and Alexandria. The GOAM's
support for Egypt in general could also be a reflection of
the fact that Egypt was one of the first Arab countries --
actually, one of the first countries worldwide -- to
establish diplomatic relations with Armenia after the latter
declared independence in 1991. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
IO/UNESCO (KSIEKMAN)
//// C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED PREL TAG ////
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PREL UNESCO AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA TO BACK EGYPT'S CULTURE MINISTER FOR
UNESCO DG
REF: STATE 130916
Classified By: DCM Joseph Pennington for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) Acting Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on
December 16 to Tziunik Aghajanian, Director of International
Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aghajanian
said Armenia has long committed to supporting the candidacy
of Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni to be the next
UNESCO Director General.
2. (C) Armenia did so for two reasons, according to
Aghajanian: a) to maintain positive bilateral relations with
a key Arab state where Armenia has a large and vibrant
Diaspora and ample cultural heritage; and b) to support
diverse regional candidates for the post. When asked to
reconsider Armenia's position, Aghajanian replied that while
sensitive to the United States' contrarian views of Hosni,
this was a case where Egyptian diplomacy was way out in front
very early on. She stated that the Egyptians had contacted
Armenia on this issue as far back as 2007, before she assumed
her position. Aghajanian said Armenia would not change its
position now, and that it had also been approached by the
Bulgarians in September to support their candidate, which
they also had to decline.
3. (C) COMMENT: As post has previously reported on various
occasions, the GOAM is traditionally quite conservative in
its diplomacy with the Arab world, given the fact of its
large Diaspora in the Middle East and Yerevan being loathe to
draw unwanted attention to Christian Armenians residing
there. In the case of Egypt, Armenia boasts an active and
prominent Diaspora in Cairo and Alexandria. The GOAM's
support for Egypt in general could also be a reflection of
the fact that Egypt was one of the first Arab countries --
actually, one of the first countries worldwide -- to
establish diplomatic relations with Armenia after the latter
declared independence in 1991. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH