04YEREVAN212
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin 04YEREVAN212 2004-01-23 11:12 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Yerevan This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000212
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, DRL, PPD EUR/CACEN FOR EUGENIA SIDEREAS AND MARGARET PAWLICK DRL FOR KIMBER SHEARER AND WENDY SILVERMAN, G FOR G/IWI
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM TU AM SUBJECT: PM APPOINTS ETHNIC MINORITIES AND RELIGIOUS ISSUES ADVISOR
¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please treat accordingly.
SUMMARY
¶2. (SBU) Prime Minister Andranik Margarian appointed Hranush Kharatian as Head of the Department on Ethnic Minorities and Religious Issues within the Cabinet. Kharatian will supervise GOAM programs targeted at the economic and educational development of minority communities. Though the influence of the new post is yet to be determined, Kharatian's appointment highlights a positive development in the GOAM's attitude to a long neglected issue.
FIRST GOAM OFFICE ON ETHNIC MINORITY ISSUES
¶3. (SBU) Prime Minister Andranik Markarian appointed Hranush Kharatian as the Head of the Department on Ethnic Minorities and Religious Issues within the GOAM cabinet on January 19. The appointment marks the first time since independence that the GOAM has set apart a government office for ethnic minority issues. Kharatian will coordinate GOAM-funded programs for ethnic minority communities including native language elementary and secondary school curricula, newspapers and culture classes. Comment: Past implementation of these programs has been spotty at best, and some point to Kharatian's appointment as a sign that the GOAM will now dedicate more attention to Armenia's ethnic minorities. End comment.
¶4. (SBU) According to government sources, Kharatian's office will not deal with the registration of religious organizations. This function will remain with the State Registrar. The Prime Minister's Advisor on Religious Issues will continue to exercise a high-level policy role with respect to religion in Armenia. (Comment: It is still unclear how effectively Kharatian can influence policy across GOAM agency lines with the Prime's Minister's Advisor on Religious Issues. Appointing additional government personnel to work with religious minorities appears at least a nominal step in the right direction. End comment.)
APPOINTMENT CAUSES CONTROVERSY
¶5. (U) Technical aspects of Kharatian's appointment created controversy between the Prime Minister's Office and the Civil Service Council. The Civil Service Council decried the Prime Minister's decision to appoint Kharatian as a violation of Armenian Law. The Law on Civil Service requires this position to undergo a solicitation and transparent application process. The Council suggested revoking the Prime Minister's decision and announcing competition for the position. The controversy overshadowed the policy aspects of Kharatian's appointment in the press. Both parties have yet to reach a mutually acceptable conclusion.
KHARATIAN: IV ALUMNI, AZERI SPECIALIST
¶6. (U) Kharatian is one of Armenia's best-recognized ethnographers and authorities on Armenian ethnic minorities. News media often seek her opinion on cultural issues surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the movement of refugees. Kharatian participated in an International Visitors (IV) Program in 2001 and has participated in a number of Embassy-sponsored roundtable meetings on national minorities. Kharatian previously worked as chairperson of Yerevan State University's Ethnology Department and served as vice-mayor of Yerevan in the late 1990's. She serves as president of the Armenian branch of South Caucasus Women's Dialogue and is actively involved in the Armenian-Turkish Women's Roundtable.