US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1088

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; DRL 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, AM 
SUBJECT:  ARMENIAN OPPOSITION HALTS PROTESTS, AWAITS 
GOAM RESPONSE TO PACE 
 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2. (SBU) The Armenian opposition announced a 10-day 
suspension in its protests against the presidency of 
Robert Kocharian to give the government time to comply 
with PACE Resolution 1374.  Opposition leaders 
announced the suspension to a crowd of nearly 5,000 
during a protest in central Yerevan, May 4.  After the 
rally, protesters marched by the Armenian National 
Security Service and police headquarters to protest the 
government practice of using "administrative detention" 
against opposition supporters.  The protest ended 
peacefully, but Post has unconfirmed reports of 
additional detentions.  End Summary. 
 
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REACTION TO PACE 
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3. (SBU) In their comments to the crowd, the leaders of 
the Justice Alliance and the National Unity Party (AMK) 
frequently referred to the Parliamentary Assembly of 
the Council of Europe (PACE) resolution of last week, 
which denounced the GOAM crackdown on opposition 
activities.  The speakers called on the GOAM to comply 
with the resolution, specifically by releasing those in 
administrative detention and by ensuring freedom of 
assembly and expression.  Many of the more active 
protesters carried European Union flags.  Albert 
Bazheyan of the Justice Alliance claimed "those [EU] 
demands are also the opposition demands."  The 
opposition announced the 10-day suspension of protests 
in order to give the government time to comply with the 
PACE resolution. 
 
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MARCH AND REACTION 
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4. (SBU) After the 90-minute rally, many of the 
demonstrators marched past the National Security 
Service and the central police station.  Post has no 
reports of violence during the march.  Protesters had 
been warned by the GOAM not to march down Baghramian 
Avenue toward the National Assembly and the 
Presidential Palace.  The government stationed water 
cannons, troops and police along Baghramian, but the 
protesters followed their previously announced route 
past law enforcement agencies 
 
5. (SBU) Opposition parties have not yet confirmed 
reports of 14 additional administrative detentions 
after the rally.  The number detained, if accurate, is 
significantly smaller than the thirty to forty people 
detained after each of last month's rallies. 
 
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COMMENT 
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6. (SBU) The government made no official comment on the 
opposition's demands, but instead has emphasized that 
the PACE resolution did not endorse a presidential 
referendum.  Since the opposition and GOAM have few 
points of contact to facilitate negotiation and because 
both sides claim victory in PACE Resolution 1374, Post 
sees little chance for compromise in the short term and 
as yet has seen no indication that the GOAM has changed 
its position since the PACE resolution. 
ORDWAY