US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN2030

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN AND AC/CB 
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015 
TAGS: PARM, ABUD, AM, AROC, CWC, CBW, OPCW 
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION:  ARMENIA MISSES 
NOVEMBER DEADLINE 
 
REF: A) STATE 31912 B) YEREVAN 371 
 
Classified By: CDA A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) Following what appeared to be good progress toward 
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), 
Armenian MFA Global Security and Non-Conventional Issues 
Acting Division Head Karen Matirossian told us during a 
recent meeting that, as he had predicted in March (ref B), 
the GOAM was unable to pass implementing legislation to 
fulfill its CWC Article VII obligations (ref A).  "Technical 
problems" had delayed the process, Matirossian told us, but 
he was optimistic that legislation would be in place "by 
early 2006."  Matirossian's optimism may be misplaced. 
Despite National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian's 
promises to the contrary, it appears parliamentary leaders 
have failed to follow through on CWC implementation.  With 
Parliament's 2005 regular session over, neither 
Baghdasarian's office nor the chairman of the National 
Assembly committee with jurisdiction over CWC initiatives 
appears able to explain the steps the GOAM plans to take to 
meet its CWC obligations.  End Summary. 
 
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"TECHNICAL PROBLEMS" DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION? 
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2. (C) MFA Global Security and Non-Conventional Issues Acting 
Division Head Karen Matirossian told us during a November 15 
meeting that the GOAM was unable to fulfill CWC Article VII 
requirements by the CWC Conference of States Parties (CSP) 
November deadline (ref A).  Matirossian, who in March (ref B) 
expressed his doubts that Armenia could pass implementing 
legislation before the CSP's 10th Session (November 7-11), 
said that "technical problems" had indeed delayed the 
process, but he was "optimistic that the legislation will be 
in place by early 2006."  He said he could not provide 
further details about the "technical problems."  Matirossian 
also told us that, along with 32 other OPCW member countries, 
Armenia is currently "trying to restore its voting rights in 
the organization."  Already behind on payments "for quite 
some time," Armenia, "like Rwanda," hopes to defer membership 
fees "for about ten years,"  Matirossian said. 
 
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POLITICAL WILL TO MEET CWC REQUIREMENTS UNCLEAR 
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3. (C) On May 25, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Artur 
Baghdasarian visited the Organization for the Prohibition of 
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) headquarters in The Hague with a 
delegation of GOAM officials including NA Standing Committee 
on Defense, National Security, and Internal Affairs Chairman 
Mher Shahgeldian.  According to OPCW press reports, 
Baghdasarian "reaffirmed Armenia's resolve to support the 
full and universal implementation of the Chemical Weapons 
Convention."  Shahgeldian told us Armenia is still working 
toward that goal, though he said he could not explain the 
current status of Parliament's CWC implementation efforts or 
the future steps the government plans to take to meet its 
obligations.  (Note:  During our first call on Shahgeldian on 
November 15 he asked us if Armenia had signed the Chemical 
Weapons Convention.  End Note.) 
 
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IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION NOT ON PARLIAMENT'S RADAR 
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4. (C) Shahgeldian who appeared to re-engage on CWC 
obligations only after our initial inquiries, told us on 
November 18 that he was still trying "to find out about the 
Chemical Weapons Convention" from the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs.  Varuzhan Bolorchyan, National Assembly Speaker 
Baghdasarian's assistant, whom we also approached for a 
summary of the GOAM's efforts to date, told us the CWC was "a 
dark room" to him and that he had "no idea" about the current 
status of Parliament's efforts to address its obligations. 
 
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COMMENT:  NO FOLLOW-THROUGH ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION 
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5. (C) We believe the GOAM's approach further illustrates the 
low priority the government currently places on the threat of 
chemical weapons and dual-use materials.  Despite National 
Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian's May 25 visit to the 
OPCW in The Hague, and his reported promises to the contrary, 
it appears parliamentary officials have failed to follow 
through on Armenia's CWC obligations.  The GOAM has not paid 
its OPCW membership dues, and members of Parliament who 
should be shepherding CWC implementing legislation through 
the National Assembly process say they are unaware of 
Armenia's obligations.  As the Armenian Parliament shutters 
its final regular legislative session this year, we do not 
expect significant short-term progress toward Armenian CWC 
implementing legislation, though we will continue to push 
Matirossian, Shahgeldian, and other key parliamentarians to 
work with their counterparts at the OPCW to fully implement 
the convention. 
GODFREY