ARMENIA: PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY INVITATION DELIVERED

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000258 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/CARC, ISN/CPI - PURCELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP KSTC AM SUBJECT: ARMENIA: PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY INVITATION DELIVERED REF: STATE 23570 ¶1. Poloff delivered reftel invitation regarding the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Fifth Anniversary Events to Armen Yedigarian, Director of the Department for Arms Control and International Security on March 20. Yedigarian stated that the Armenian MFA would try to participate at the Deputy Ministerial level but would not be able to provide details on the composition of the delegation until April 14. ¶2. Post presumes that the April 9 presidential inauguration and concomitant changes at the Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial level may lead to slightly lower level participation. Fortunately, Yedigarian and his senior staff are highly-qualified and effective partners, so if Armenian participation should be pushed down to that level, we have confidence that they would contribute substantively to the PSI program. Post appreciates ISN/CPI's assistance in identifying funding for travel of Armenian Delegation. PENNINGTON