WikiLeaks – Armenia No 111
2009-11-13
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9725
S E C R E T YEREVAN 000793
SUBJECT: (S) GOAM’S FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE ON SA-10 MISSILES
Classified By: CDA Joseph Pennington, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
¶1. (S/NF) Following up on the demarche Ambassador Yovanovitch delivered to Defense Minister Ohanian (ref A), the Defense Attache on November 13 met with Colonel Davit Tonoyan, Chief of the Defense Policy Department at the Ministry of Defense, for more clarification on the SA-10 missiles delivered to Armenia.
¶2. (S/NF) Colonel Tonoyan assured the DATT that the Ministry of Defense understands Washington’s concerns surrounding the missiles in question, which he referred to as “S-300” missiles. (Note: Tonoyan is aware of the Joint Action Plan and has been the key MoD interlocutor on amending Armenia’s Munitions List-related laws. End Note.)
¶3. (S/NF) Tonoyan stated that the missiles are intended only for use by Armenia’s Armed Forces, and nothing else. He emphasized that Armenia has no intention to transfer or re-export the missiles to any other nation or entity.
¶4. (S/NF) Tonoyan confirmed that Armenia acquired the missiles for its Air Defense Forces, and that the missiles were transported to Armenia from Russia. He stressed that Armenian assets–not Russian– were used for the delivery of the missiles to Armenia.
¶5. (S/NF) Tonoyan insisted that the missiles are purely defensive in nature, and Armenia’s reason for acquiring them was in response to Azerbaijan’s purchase of offensive military aircraft.
¶6. (S/NF) Tonoyan assured the DATT that had Armenia planned to re-export the missiles, the Ministry of Defense and the Armenian government would have followed all of the appropriate procedures recently established in their new export control system, and that Armenia would have abided by all of its international agreements, including United Nations embargos and prohibitions. Tonoyan noted that in addition, Armenia would have consulted the United States prior to the transfer or re-export, as agreed in the Joint Action Plan.
¶7. (S/NF) Tonoyan said that the missiles have been inventoried and secured by the Ministry of Defense. They are being stored at a local weapons storage depot, and security protections have been established in accordance with appropriate MoD physical security regulations for such types of weapons systems/munitions.
PENNINGTON
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