US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN2113

S E C R E T YEREVAN 002113 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/CACEN FOR EUGENIA SIDEREAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DNG: CO 09/24/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IR, AM 
SUBJECT: FM TAPS SPECIAL ADVISOR AS NEXT AMBASSADOR TO IRAN 
 
REF: YEREVAN 2019 
 
Classified By: DCM AF Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
(S) Karen Nazarian, Special Advisor to Armenia's Foreign 
Minister, told us September 24 that FM Vartan Oskanian had 
asked him to serve as Armenia's next Ambassador to Iran.  He 
said the information was still extremely close-hold and that 
only the President, FM and a handful within the MFA were 
aware of the decision.  Nazarian claimed that the news came 
as a surprise to him, but linked it to his role in 
successfully managing the MFA's role in three recently 
announced bi-lateral energy and infrastructure projects -- 
the Armenia-Iran gas pipeline, thermal water station and 
Kajaran Pass tunnel (reftel).  Nazarian appeared confident 
that the nomination would gain approval from President 
Kocharian's office, especially in light of Nazarian's 
multiple trips to Tehran accompanying the President.  He said 
that Iran issues were becoming increasingly important within 
the MFA as demonstrated by the recent state visit by Iranian 
President Khatami and MFA's choice to promote Armenia's 
current Ambassador to Iran, Geram Garibdzhanian, to the post 
of Deputy Minister (the MFA has not confirmed the news 
regarding Garibdzhanian, although press reports continue to 
rumor the move). 
EVANS