US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1845

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/UNP RAYMOND HOTZ, EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014 
TAGS: PREL, IS, AM, UNGA 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED:  OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS 
 
REF: STATE 188933 
 
Classified By: DCM A.F.Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
(C) We delivered demarche talking points on opposing 
anti-Israel bias at the UN to MFA International Organizations 
Department Chief Valery Mkrtumyan and Human Rights Acting 
Department Chief Tigran Samvelian on October 12 per reftel 
instructions.  During a discussion of Armenia's voting record 
on the issue, Mkrtumyan disagreed with our assessment that 
Armenia's "yes" votes could be understood as out of synch 
with USG goals at UNGA.  He suggested that the USG should 
consider Armenia's abstention vote last year as a sign of 
solidarity with Washington's UNGA goals.  Mkrtumyan repeated 
the MFA's traditional talking point on this issue, stating 
that Armenia's geographic position "in the Middle Eastern 
neighborhood" and the need to maintain political alliances 
with a wide range of nations made this a sensitive subject 
for the MFA.  Mkrtumyan promised to relay our demarche points 
to Armenia's PermRep in New York but would not commit to any 
modification in Armenia's position during this UNGA. 
Comment:  The Armenians are generally receptive to our points 
on UN reform.  Couching this issue in terms of updating or 
eliminating UN structures with outdated mandates may be our 
best course of action if we are to get the MFA to vote with 
us this year. 
EVANS