US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN1969

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001969 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PHUM, IR, AM 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER'S PUBLIC STATEMENT ON IRANIAN 
PRESIDENT'S ANTI-ISRAELI RHETORIC 
 
REF: A) STATE 199225 B) YEREVAN 1930 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1. (U) On November 5, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan 
Oskanian told students and reporters at Yerevan State 
University that Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's recent 
statement regarding Israel "will have no impact on 
Armenian-Iranian relations."  Oskanian told the audience that 
"Israeli issues have never been on the agenda of the 
Armenian-Iranian political dialogue." 
 
2. (C) In contrast, on November 1 Oskanian told the 
Ambassador that he expected Armenian Presidential Chief of 
Staff Artashes Tumanian would "caution the Iranians" (ref B) 
about inflammatory anti-Israeli rhetoric during his upcoming 
visit to Tehran for the next session of the Iran-Armenia 
Joint Economic Commission.  He said the GOAM had considered 
canceling or postponing the session, but decided in the end 
not to do so. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Despite Oskanian's assurances, we cannot be 
sure that Tumanian will deliver the Armenian message of 
caution to his Iranian interlocutors, or, if he does, how 
forceful that message will be.  Oskanian's public/private 
contradiction may be intended to balance Armenian concern for 
placating the USG and Armenian desire to keep deepening 
economic and political relations with Iran on track. 
Ahmadi-Nejad's recent commitment to recognize the events of 
1915 in Ottoman Turkey as "genocide," has likely also 
contributed to Armenia's reluctance to upset the relationship. 
EVANS