Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YEREVAN141
2008-02-15 14:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIA: VISIT OF E.U. TROIKA

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM CVIS SMIG KDEM AM 
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151438Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7045
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000141 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CVIS SMIG KDEM AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: VISIT OF E.U. TROIKA

YEREVAN 00000141 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Classified By: CDA Joseph Pennington, reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000141

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CVIS SMIG KDEM AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: VISIT OF E.U. TROIKA

YEREVAN 00000141 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Classified By: CDA Joseph Pennington, reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: An EU Troika delegation met with senior
GOAM officials as part of a 3-day visit to the South Caucasus
February 4-6. The delegation discussed, among other things,
issues related to Armenia's upcoming presidential elections,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, as well as other
aspects of the Neighborhood policy (ENP). The EU Troika
presided over the inauguration of the new European Commission
diplomatic mission in Armenia. We obtained a readout from
the French and European Commission chiefs of mission. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) An EU "Troika" delegation consisting of Slovenian
Foreign Minister Dmitrij Rupel, European Commissioner for
External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy
(ENP)Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the EU Special
Representative for the Southern Caucasus Peter Semneby, met
with a number of senior Armenian government (GOAM) officials
during February 4-6. They included President Kocharian,
Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, and National Assembly Speaker
Tigran Torosian. The Troika reviewed Armenia's compliance
with its stated commitments to the ENP, the country's
business climate, respect for human rights and a free and
independent mass media, as well as the upcoming presidential
elections. The EU delegation also reiterated the importance
of continuing efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

--------------
PRIME MINISTER SARGSIAN
--------------


3. (C) During their meeting with PM Sargsian, the Troika
expressed hope that the upcoming presidential elections would
mark an improvement over the May 2007 parliamentary elections
and would indeed be "competitive, free, and fair." The
Troika offered constructive criticism on GOAM democratic
reforms and encouraged the GOAM to improve independent media
access to the elections, citing Gala TV as an example. In

addition, Ferrero-Waldner pointed out that the GOAM needed to
demonstrate greater respect for human rights in order to
comply with all chapters of the ENPP action plan.


4. (C) All GOAM interlocutors affirmed Armenia's
determination to hold free and fair elections, but PM
Sargsian did so with particular fervor, pointing out that
this will bear directly on his own legitimacy if he wins the
presidency. Sargsian also brought up a number of priorities
for GOAM vis-a-vis the EU. These were: 1) Visa facilitation,
with a goal of eventual visa-free travel to the EU. In the
meantime, the PM suggested a joint Schengen consulate be
established in Yerevan that could issue visas for those EU
countries that did not have an embassy in Yerevan. The
establishment of a regional European cultural center in
Yerevan modeled on other centers in Baku and Tbilisi. 3) The
harmonization of bilateral trade regulations with a view to
an eventual regional free trade agreement.

--------------
PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN
--------------


5. (C) In their meeting with President Kocharian, the Troika
stressed the importance of continuing negotiations for the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While Kocharian
was somewhat skeptical of the potential for progress, he
indicated that Minsk Group negotiations would continue
uninterrupted by the Presidential elections.

--------------
FOREIGN MINISTER OSKANIAN
--------------


6. (C) The Troika also discussed Turkey-Armenia relations
during their meeting with Foreign Minister Oskanian and were
pleased to note that he appeared "reinvigorated" on
the subject. Oskanian stated that the GOAM was ready to
officially recognize its border with Turkey, downplay
"genocide" recognition, and participate in a joint historical
commission to study the "genocide" issue, in exchange for
Turkey's opening the border and
establishing normal diplomatic relations. Ambassador Smessow
noted that PM Sargsian was in agreement with Oskanian on
these points.

--------------
INAUGURATING A FULL-FLEDGED EU MISSION
--------------


YEREVAN 00000141 002.2 OF 002



7. (U) The featured event of the Troika visit was the
inauguration of the newly-completed, purpose-built facility
to house the newly upgraded European Commission (EC)
delegation. This coincides with the upgrading of the local
EC presence to formal "delegation" status, headed by an
ambassadorial-rank chief of mission. Previously, the local
EC personnel had been a branch office of a South Caucasus
delegation, headed by an ambassador in Tbilisi. The Italian
(of Germanic descent) charge d'affaires, Raul de
Lutzenberger, has been promoted to the new ambassadorial
position, but has not yet presented his credentials. The
Troika noted that the commissioning of a new building for the
mission was evidence of the European Commission's
longer-term commitment to Armenia.
PENNINGTON