DAS KAIDANOW PRESSES ARMENIA ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000757 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AM SUBJECT: DAS KAIDANOW PRESSES ARMENIA ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS REF: YEREVAN 700 YEREVAN 00000757 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In meetings with senior GOAM officials, EUR DAS Tina Kaidanow encouraged further progress on democracy and human rights issues, stressing the unnecessary harm to the GOAM's reputation from continued detention of political prisoners. Kaidanow cautioned that restricting NGO activities can create a serious bilateral issue and urged that the GOAM reconsider a draft NGO law currently before the National Assembly. Kaidanow also reminded her interlocutors that suspension of MCC roads funding is a sign of the USG's seriousness regarding Armenia's democratization, and indicated that upcoming elections are a chance to show progress in democratization and electoral transparency. END SUMMARY. PRESSING THE PRESIDENT ON DETAINEES -------------- ¶2. (C) EUR DAS Tina Kaidanow met October 20 with President Serzh Sargsian and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, and October 21 with Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamian. During Kaidanow's meeting with Sargsian and Nalbandian, she stressed that Armenian progress on democracy and human rights was a key element of our bilateral agenda. The issue of detainees was a priority concern for the U.S. The June 19 partial amnesty granted to many of those detained in connection with the post-election violence of March 1, 2008 was an encouraging step, as was the recent release of two more detainees. Kaidanow noted that such progress opened the door to expanded bilateral cooperation, but was also the right thing to do. She urged the President to continue with more releases. POLITICAL DETAINEES COSTLY TO ARMENIA'S REPUTATION -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In a later meeting with Speaker Hovik Abrahamian, Kaidanow asserted that continued detention of political opponents is costly for Armenia. There is international interest in every detainee, counts are being kept, and prisoners create a focal point for the opposition, which Abrahamian acknowledged is relatively weak and unable to win elections. There would be very little cost, and considerable benefit, Kaidanow pointed out, for the GOAM to release all remaining detainees. Abrahamian, generally viewed as a trusted advisor to the President, said he would talk to the President about this. DRAFT NGO LAW A STEP BACKWARD -------------- ¶4. (C) Kaidanow told Abrahamian that the USG is concerned about the draft law on NGOs (reftel),which would impose serious administrative burdens on NGOs and which appears to be an effort to bring them under greater government control. Kaidanow noted that crackdowns on NGOs can become serious bilateral issues, and does not want to see this occur in Armenia. Abrahamian insisted that the GOAM is moving forward on democratization and that his wish is for Armenia to rank among the world's democratic countries. With regard to the draft NGO law, he said he is reviewing the letter the Ambassador had sent him on this subject recently, and that he would consult with NGOs to learn their concerns, as well as with the author of the draft bill, Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielian. He insisted he has no intention of restricting NGO activities, and if the proposed reporting requirements are too burdensome, he said, he would reconsider the issue. MCC --- ¶5. (C) Abrahamian expressed his disappointment with the suspension of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) roads project, and hoped that the USG could reconsider the suspension. He understood that the suspension was linked to the events of March 1, which he acknowledged cast a shadow on the new President. However, he claimed, the situation has improved since the elections, with changes to criminal legislation, as well as an amnesty and a release of political detainees. Kaidanow reminded Abrahamian that the MCC compact was built around specific standards that the GOAM has not met, and that the suspension of the program shows that the USG is serious about Armenia's democratization. While there was little chance that the USG would revive the rural roads project, Kaidanow noted that two-thirds of the MCC compact continues to be implemented, and will ultimately amount to YEREVAN 00000757 002.2 OF 002 $180 million of assistance. ¶6. (C) Kaidanow suggested that the GOAM now has an opportunity to put democratic reform into practice. Upcoming parliamentary by-elections in several districts (Malatia-Sebastia, which arguably had the worst abuses during the May 31 election; and Kentron, in downtown Yerevan) are an opportunity to show a commitment toward democratization and electoral transparency. Abrahamian claimed that the May 31 election was viewed by the EU, OSCE and others as fair and transparent, and that persons who committed electoral violations were prosecuted. "They are an enemy for us, too," Abrahamian claimed. He said the GOAM would invite the Embassy to observe the upcoming elections. ¶7. (U) DAS Kaidanow has cleared on this cable. YOVANOVITCH