US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1639

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, IO, DRL, G/TIP 
EUR/CACEN FOR EUGENIA SIDEREAS 
IO/UNP FOR BRIAN NARANJO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, PHUM, KDEM, AORC, UNGA, UN 
SUBJECT:  59TH UNGA -- ARMENIA'S MOSTLY FAVORABLE RESPONSE 
TO USG INITIATIVES 
 
REF: STATE 152009 
 
1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please treat 
accordingly. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche on USG initiatives at 
the 59th UNGA to MFA International Organizations Acting 
Division Chief Artak Apitonian July 20.  Apitonian predicted 
that the GOAM would support the majority of the USG 
initiatives, and was upbeat regarding potential cooperation 
on economic issues and a possible anti-trafficking 
resolution.  He said, however, that the USG should not 
expect a shift in the GOAM's approach toward UNGA Middle 
East resolutions this year.  End Summary. 
 
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ADVANCING ECONOMIC FREEDOM 
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3. (SBU) Apitonian said the GOAM was mostly in agreement 
with the USG's approach to economic issues at UNGA.  He said 
that the GOAM looked to the UN to encourage countries to 
focus their domestic policies on the goals of the Monterrey 
Consensus of 2002.  He said that the GOAM shares the same 
vision regarding good governance and economic development in 
the country.  He cited Armenia's Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Paper (PRSP), the recent discussions of the U.S.-Armenia 
Task Force on Economic Cooperation (USATF) and the country's 
eligibility for Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funding 
as evidence of the GOAM's commitment to the principles of 
the Monterrey Consensus and USG economic policy initiatives. 
Apitonian hinted that FM Vartan Oskanian's address to the 
UNGA this year would focus on these themes.  He also 
suggested that Armenia's Ambassador to the UN, Armen 
Martirosian, was more engaged than his predecessors on 
economic issues and said the USG might find him a more eager 
partner on economic policies. 
 
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COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
-------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Apitonian said that Armenia would be supportive of 
resolutions addressing the issue of trafficking of persons 
at UNGA.  He indicated that the GOAM was anxious to portray 
itself as an ally in the fight against trafficking in 
persons in the UN and other international arenas as part of 
its ongoing work with the USG on the issue.  Apitonian noted 
that Armenia defines a minor as anyone under the age of 18. 
He said that Armenia's ambition to join the UN Commission on 
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and would enhance its 
international efforts in trafficking in persons and hinted 
that the GOAM would approach the USG for its support in 
2005. 
 
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PROMOTING DEMOCRACY 
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5. (SBU) Apitonian echoed earlier positive comments about 
USG initiatives at the UN to promote democracy and 
governance.  He said the GOAM was anxious to continue its 
current role with respect to the Democracy Caucus and said 
the GOAM viewed itself as a model among its regional 
neighbors in this regard. 
 
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BAN ON HUMAN CLONING 
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6. (SBU) Apitonian noted the GOAM's confusion as to when the 
topic of human cloning might be discussed at UNGA.  He said 
that, despite conflicting information from some governments, 
the GOAM was operating under the assumption that it would be 
part of the 60th UNGA and not included in discussions this 
year.  He was well aware of the Costa Rican resolution and, 
while non-committal, suggested that Armenia's Mission in New 
York had not appeared enthusiastic about lending its 
support. 
 
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MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTIONS 
----------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) Apitonian reviewed Armenia's voting record on 
Middle East resolutions during last year's UNGA and 
predicted that the GOAM and would not go far beyond this 
position during the 59th UNGA.  While still too early to 
make a commitment either way, he said that an abstention 
from the GOAM was likely in most of these cases raised in 
the demarche.  He noted, however, that there was increasing 
caution within the MFA about the GOAM's position on any 
resolution (at UNGA, the OSCE or within other international 
fora) regarding the situation in the Middle East that might 
be interpreted as applicable to the conflict with Azerbaijan 
over Nagorno-Karabakh. 
 
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ARMENIAN INITIATIVES 
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8. (SBU) Apitonian said the GOAM was still hopeful in its 
efforts at the UN regarding "2005 as the Year of Prevention 
of Genocide and War Crimes."  He said that a joint 
initiative among CIS countries in commemoration of World War 
II could change the focus of the GOAM's efforts.  GOAM 
bureaucrats in New York and Yerevan are examining 
possibilities for combining the issues, Apitonian noted. 
 
9. (U) Embassy POC is Political/Economic Officer Aaron 
Sherinian (SherinianAH@state.gov). 
ORDWAY