(S) GOAM'S INITIAL RESPONSE ON SA-10 MISSILES

S E C R E T YEREVAN 000769



NOFORN

SIPDIS



E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2019

TAGS: ETRD, ETTC, MARR, MCAP, PARM, PREL, AM

SUBJECT: (S) GOAM'S INITIAL RESPONSE ON SA-10 MISSILES



REF: STATE 107312



Classified By: AMB Marie L. Yovanovitch, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).



1. (S/NF) On October 27 and 29, the Ambassador met with

Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanian and Foreign Minister

Edward Nalbandian, separately, to deliver the reftel

demarche. The Ambassador conveyed Washington's knowledge of

Armenia's ongoing acquisition of SA-10 missiles and its

concerns about the end use of the weapons. The Ambassador

highlighted in particular USG concerns about the possible

re-export of the weapons to specific countries, without first

consulting with the United States as Armenia has undertaken

to do per its commitments under the March 2009 Joint Action

Plan. The Ambassador also stressed USG concerns about the

storage and security of the weapons in Armenia, and asked if

Russia was involved at all in the acquisition of the

missiles. Lastly, the Ambassador requested that Armenia

consult the U.S. about its plans for future arms purchases.



2. (S/NF) Both of the ministers assured the Ambassador that,

after Armenia's recent experience with the Iran arms sale

that resulted in the Joint Action Plan, Armenia will not

allow such incidents to be repeated. Interestingly,

Ohanian--and his assistant's--inital reaction to the demarche

appeared to be one of confusion, with neither of them sure

about the type of missile being referred to. (COMMENT:

"SA-10" is what the Ambassador told the Minister, but neither

he nor his assistant were sure what kind of missile was being

referred to. After the meeting, the Embassy discreetly

provided the Minister's office the Russian terminology for

the missile and the S-300 system that supports it. END

COMMENT)



3. (S/NF) Ohanian assured the Ambassador that he would look

into the missile information she shared and get back to her

as soon as possible. But he insisted that "whatever missiles

that are brought into Armenia are used purely to reinforce

Armenia's armed forces" and "used only by them." He noted

that "any transaction or transportation" of such weapons is

"not linked with any third country." He repeated to the

Ambassador that whatever (weapons) Armenia brings in are "for

our units, and primarily for our defensive capabilities."

Ohanian asserted that whatever Armenia acquires it subjects

to strict storage and security measures.



4. (S/NF) On Russia, Ohanian said "it is Russia's task to

provision its base and its contingent--not ours." When the

Ambassador pressed Ohanian further on the possibility that

some of the weapons were intended for the Russians, he

confided that he has no visibility on what the Russians bring

in, but "I can tell you that Russia is not actively

provisioning their base right now." He underscored to the

Ambassador that "we are not bringing in anything for the

Russians."



5. (S/NF) Foreign Minister Nalbandian attentively listened to

the demarche, uncharacteristically taking handwritten notes.

His initial reply was that he did not know what military

weapons Armenia imports "because that is not my area." But

he repeatedly stated it was "impossible" that Armenia

re-export such weapons to any country identified by the Joint

Action Plan. He said he well understood USG concerns, and

where they came from, but that--again--it would be

"impossible" in the current situation for Armenia to sell

such weapons to a country like Iran.



6. (S/NF) Comment: Post will follow up with the Ministry of

Defense on this issue. End Comment.





































YOVANOVITCH