Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09YEREVAN792
2009-11-13 14:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM NON-COMMITTAL ON UNGA IRAN VOTES
how-toINFO LOG-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 DS-00 EAP-00 DHSE-00 EUR-00 VCI-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 MED-07 MOFM-00 MOF-00 M-00 VCIE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 OIC-00 OIG-00 NIMA-00 PA-00 MCC-00 DOHS-00 FMPC-00 SSO-00 SS-00 T-00 SCRS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 SCA-00 CARC-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SWCI-00 /008W O 131409Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9724 INFO AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BAKU IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000792
DEPT FOR DRL-MLGA, IO-RHS, EUR/PGI (ELDRIDGE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA IR AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM NON-COMMITTAL ON UNGA IRAN VOTES
REF: STATE 116262
Classified By: CDA Joseph Pennington, Reasons 1.4(b,d)
-----------------------------------
Kirakossian Non-Comittal on Votes...
------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000792
DEPT FOR DRL-MLGA, IO-RHS, EUR/PGI (ELDRIDGE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA IR AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM NON-COMMITTAL ON UNGA IRAN VOTES
REF: STATE 116262
Classified By: CDA Joseph Pennington, Reasons 1.4(b,d)
--------------
Kirakossian Non-Comittal on Votes...
--------------
1. (C) Charge raised reftel points on upcoming UNGA votes on
Iran with Deputy Foreign Minister Kirakossian on November 13.
CDA strongly urged that the GOAM reverse its established
patttern of supporting Iran in these votes. At the least,
the Government should instruct its representative to abstain
or absent himself when the votes take place. Kirakossian
took note of U.S. concerns, but made no substantive comment.
He promised to raise the matter with FM Nalbandian and get
back to us in coming days.
--------------
...But Reveals Irritation With GOI
--------------
2. (C) Kirakossian revealed, however, that all is not well in
Armenia's generally cordial relations with Iran. According
to the Deputy FM, the Iranians have recently reneged on a
bilateral education agreement under which each government
pledged to recognize university degrees issued in the other
country. (Note: Hundreds of Iranian students are enrolled in
Armenian universities, most visibly in the Yerevan State
University Faculty of Medicine. End note.) Although the
Iranians gave the "pretext" that the move was related to
"concerns over quality" in the Armenian university system,
Kirakossian argued that the GOI was in fact penalizing
Iranian students for perceived anti-regime sentiments. The
issue came to the surface earlier this year when a number of
Iranian-American entertainers gave performances in Yerevan,
during which many in the audience (presumably including
students) chanted slogans against the regime and held up
anti-regime posters.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Neither U.S. intervention nor the reported flap over
the Iranian students will likely be enough to dissuade the
GOAM from supporting Iran in the UNGA votes. The presence of
a significant minority of ethnic Armenians in Iran (around
60,000) and Armenia's reliance on trade with Iran given
closed borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey will probably
remain decisive in Armenian calculations at the UN.
Nevertheless, we will press the case with additional contacts
on the issue next week.
PENNINGTON
DEPT FOR DRL-MLGA, IO-RHS, EUR/PGI (ELDRIDGE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA IR AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM NON-COMMITTAL ON UNGA IRAN VOTES
REF: STATE 116262
Classified By: CDA Joseph Pennington, Reasons 1.4(b,d)
--------------
Kirakossian Non-Comittal on Votes...
--------------
1. (C) Charge raised reftel points on upcoming UNGA votes on
Iran with Deputy Foreign Minister Kirakossian on November 13.
CDA strongly urged that the GOAM reverse its established
patttern of supporting Iran in these votes. At the least,
the Government should instruct its representative to abstain
or absent himself when the votes take place. Kirakossian
took note of U.S. concerns, but made no substantive comment.
He promised to raise the matter with FM Nalbandian and get
back to us in coming days.
--------------
...But Reveals Irritation With GOI
--------------
2. (C) Kirakossian revealed, however, that all is not well in
Armenia's generally cordial relations with Iran. According
to the Deputy FM, the Iranians have recently reneged on a
bilateral education agreement under which each government
pledged to recognize university degrees issued in the other
country. (Note: Hundreds of Iranian students are enrolled in
Armenian universities, most visibly in the Yerevan State
University Faculty of Medicine. End note.) Although the
Iranians gave the "pretext" that the move was related to
"concerns over quality" in the Armenian university system,
Kirakossian argued that the GOI was in fact penalizing
Iranian students for perceived anti-regime sentiments. The
issue came to the surface earlier this year when a number of
Iranian-American entertainers gave performances in Yerevan,
during which many in the audience (presumably including
students) chanted slogans against the regime and held up
anti-regime posters.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Neither U.S. intervention nor the reported flap over
the Iranian students will likely be enough to dissuade the
GOAM from supporting Iran in the UNGA votes. The presence of
a significant minority of ethnic Armenians in Iran (around
60,000) and Armenia's reliance on trade with Iran given
closed borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey will probably
remain decisive in Armenian calculations at the UN.
Nevertheless, we will press the case with additional contacts
on the issue next week.
PENNINGTON