VZCZCXRO0295
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHYE #0055 0241252
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241252Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6886
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000055
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MNUC PREL KNNP IR GM AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: DEMARCHE ON IRAN'S ATTEMPTS TO EXPAND
BANKING RELATIONSHIPS
REF: SECSTATE 1044
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PROTECT ACCORDINGLY
(SBU) On January 16, 2008, Poloff delivered reftel non-paper
to Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Counselor for Iran
and Afghanistan, Garnik Badalyan. Poloff discussed Iran's
current efforts to establish joint banking ventures with its
neighbors as a means to possibly skirt the U.N. sanctions
regime. Poloff requested that the Armenian MFA advise the
Central Bank of Armenia to employ extra vigilance in
monitoring the financial transaction of the Iranian owned
Bank Mellat in Yerevan. Badalyan asked for more specific
information on Bank Mellat's nefarious activities, and stated
that he would make note of the Embassy's request. Any
substantive response on Bank Mellat's activities will be
reported septel.
PENNINGTON