US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN348

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-JQUINTUS AND 
JBASEDOW, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC, 
EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958; N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, AM, KMDR, OPRC, PREL, RU 
SUBJECT: ARMENIA PRESS REACTION: VISIT OF RUSSIAN 
FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. Although Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's 22-hour 
visit to Yerevan February 16-17 was standard fare, it 
generated intense press interest.  Oppositionist media 
used the FM's presence to decry Armenia's dependence on 
Russia, while official and pro-government press praised 
Armenia's close ties with Russia and the productive 
nature of the visit.  A verbal stumble by Lavrov 
shortly after deplaning fueled conspiracy theories 
about Russian actions in Georgia.  The following is a 
sample of editorial comment during the trip.  End 
Summary. 
 
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"OUTPOST" ARMENIA 
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2. Critical comment on FM Lavrov's visit was framed by 
Speaker of the Russian Duma Boris Gryzlov's statement 
last December, calling Armenia Russia's "outpost" in 
the Caucasus.  IRAVUNK, a popular anti-government 
newspaper, commented February 18, "Our officials.call 
Russian politicians strategic partners, yet it seems 
that Russia does not treat us as partners.Let's 
remember the Russian Foreign Minister considers 
(Armenia) an outpost." 
 
3.  ARAVOT, an oppositionist daily, wrote on February 
17, "We were described as an 'outpost' of Russia and we 
were very delighted; until Aliyev (the President of 
Azerbaijan) suggested that there is no reason for an 
independent state to be delighted at such a statement." 
 
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ARMENIAN FM "OBEDIENT YOUNGER BROTHER" 
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4. The oppositionist press lampooned Armenian Foreign 
Minister Vartan Oskanian as Lavrov's inferior, much 
quoting his admission that he knew less about the 
Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process than the Russian 
FM.  HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, a sensationalist opposition 
newspaper, wrote February 18, "It seems clear why 
Lavrov doesn't want to pay a full two-day visit to 
Armenia.  When the two foreign ministers started 
speaking about the Karabakh issue, Oskanian said, 'We 
introduced our position to Mr. Lavrov, but Lavrov is 
the person who knows more about this issue than me,' 
comfortably placing himself in the role of obedient 
younger brother or 'outpost'." 
 
5.  ARAVOT commented the same day, "Though there were 
no questions about the infamous 'outpost'.anyone who 
saw the whole staff of the Armenian Foreign Ministry 
purposefully running around Lavrov and his delegation 
could immediately determine that we are indeed their 
'outpost'." 
 
6.  AYB-FE, a weekly newspaper printed by the 
oppositionist A1+ media group, added, "Oskanian was 
successfully doing the job of (Lavrov's) spokesman, 
doing little more than deciding which journalists 
should ask questions." 
 
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PRO-GOVERNMENT PRESS HIGHLIGHT POSITIVE 
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7.  Armenia's pro-government press, which constitutes 
the majority, focused on the trip's positive moments 
while refraining from comment on controversial topics. 
For example, on February 17, newspapers such as 
HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTIUN, RESPUBLIKA ARMENIA, and HAYOTS 
ASHKAR featured Lavrov's statement, "There are no 
problems in our relations.  We expect a very busy year 
in our partnership." 
 
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LAVROV'S ZHVANIA STUMBLE 
------------------------ 
 
8. Three prominent TV stations, HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, and 
AZG, a centrist daily newspaper, reported FM Lavrov's 
verbal miscue shortly after deplaning.  During an 
airport press availability, Lavrov responded to a 
question about recent events in Georgia by saying, "Do 
you mean the situation after the killing of (Georgian 
Prime Minister) Zhvania..after Zhavnia's death?" 
(Note:  The sensationalist press in Armenia championed 
the rumor that PM Zhvania's 'accidental' asphyxiation 
was really a Russia-backed assassination.  End Note.) 
Lavrov's verbal stumble was not reported in the pro- 
government press. 
 
 
EVANS