US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN449

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 000449 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, WHA/CCA, DRL/MLA, IO, USUN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, CU, AM, CHR-1 
SUBJECT: CHR-61:  ARMENIANS WITH US ON CUBA, SHAKY ON 
BELARUS 
 
REF: STATE 42847 
 
Classified By: DCM A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) We delivered demarche and talking points regarding the 
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) upcoming annual session to 
MFA International Organizations Department Chief Valery 
Mkrtumyan March 11 per reftel instructions.  Mkrtumyan 
predicted that the GOAM would vote with the USG on the 
expected Cuba resolution but was less optimistic about 
prospects for GOAM support of a resolution on Belarus. 
Mkrtumyan noted that both countries had already been actively 
lobbying for GOAM support at the CHR, both in Yerevan and in 
Geneva.  He said that the GOAM agreed with the USG's 
approaches at the CHR on thematic issues including religious 
intolerance, anti-Semitism and support for the democracy 
caucus.  We will continue to engage the GOAM from this end on 
CHR issues and will report any additional information as it 
becomes available.  End Summary. 
 
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NOTING "CHARM OFFENSIVE," GOAM WITH US ON CUBA 
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2. (C) Responding to demarche talking points on the expected 
Cuba resolution at CHR-61, MFA International Organizations 
Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan predicted that the GOAM 
would vote with the USG this year.  He said the MFA 
considered last year's resolution a "weather balloon" on the 
issue and called the Cuba resolution a "good place for us to 
cooperate" at CHR.  Mkrtumyan said co-sponsorship would not 
be likely but encouraged the USG to forward the latest 
information regarding a Cuba resolution to GOAM 
representatives in Geneva.  He reported the GOAM's perception 
that the USG weighed support for the Cuba resolution as an 
important symbol of loyalty and asked that we report to 
Washington that the GOAM wanted to be counted "among the 
faithful" on the issue. 
 
3. (C) Mkrtumyan and other contacts in the MFA reported to us 
that the Cubans had already been actively lobbying the GOAM 
regarding CHR-61.  Cuban Ambassador Jorge Martinez (resident 
in Moscow) reportedly raised the issue of a Cuba resolution 
during his recent visit to Yerevan.  Our MFA contacts said 
the GOAM did not commit any support to the Cubans regarding 
CHR, but noted what appeared to them to be the latest 
installment in a "charm offensive" on human rights issues 
this year by the Cubans.  Martinez and others have, according 
to MFA contacts, raised human rights issues on a number of 
occasions, attempting to portray GOAM support for Cuba at 
last year's UNGA as a vote of confidence for Cuba's human 
rights record. 
 
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BELARUS "TOO CLOSE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD;" GOAM "NO-ACTION?" 
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4. (C) Mkrtumyan said that GOAM support for a USG-sponsored 
resolution on Belarus would be unlikely this year.  He said 
that Belarus was "too close to our neighborhood" and that the 
GOAM was wary of repercussions were it perceived to be 
undermining a CIS neighbor.  While normally opposed to 
no-action motions for the same reason the USG outlined in 
this demarche, Mkrtumyan said that a no-action motion may be 
Armenia's only viable option on Belarus during CHR-61.  Like 
the Cubans, Mkrtumyan said the Government of Belarus had been 
in touch with the GOAM regarding CHR and that they expressed 
concern about a resolution on the domestic human rights 
situation during CHR-61. 
 
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POTENTIAL ALLIES IN GENEVA 
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5. (C) Post notes that Artak Apitonian, former MFA Deputy 
Chief of the International Organizations Department, will be 
transferred to the GOAM Mission in Geneva within the next few 
weeks.  Well-versed in USG positions, Apitonian has been 
quite cooperative on USG demarches in the past and should be 
cultivated as a potential resource for future initiatives. 
Post has sought to support Apitonian during various outreach 
and representational events.  He appears to have the 
confidence of the MFA given his new assignment. 
EVANS