Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU1083
2006-07-24 06:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON MINISTER OF

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KCOR KCRM SOCI AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0847
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001083 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KCOR KCRM SOCI AJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON MINISTER OF
INTERNAL AFFAIRS RAMIL USUBOV

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER 1.4(B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001083

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KCOR KCRM SOCI AJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON MINISTER OF
INTERNAL AFFAIRS RAMIL USUBOV

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER 1.4(B,D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In her introductory call on Minister of
Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov, the Ambassador discussed
Azerbaijan's cooperation with the U.S. in law enforcement and
the effort against trafficking in persons. She emphasized the
need for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to adhere to
international standards for ethics and human rights, and to
follow rule of law, urging the Ministry to establish an
internal investigative unit similar to an Office of the
Inspector General. Underscoring that overturning the
"totalitarian" legacy of Soviet rule remains a challenge,
Usubov admitted that the MIA still has areas in which
progress is needed, such as training its personnel to act
within the law and continuing to work to combat terrorism,
trafficking in persons, narcotics trafficking, and illegal
immigration. He also said that the Ministry has taken steps
to ensure that police officers adhere to international
standards for ethics and human rights, but that some
individuals out of thousands of officers do not comply.
Rumors continue to circulate that Usubov will soon be fired,
possibly in connection with the verdict in the ongoing trial
of the Haji Mammadov kidnapping ring. END SUMMARY


2. (C) During her July 18 introductory call on Minister of
Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov, the Ambassador reviewed U.S.
priorities for the bilateral relationship: cooperation in the
Global War on Terror and regional and global security and
stability, global energy security, and advancing democracy
through political and economic reform. She highlighted the
important role played by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in
providing vital protection for the Embassy. She thanked the
MIA for its strong cooperation in law enforcement and
anti-trafficking in persons efforts, and encouraged the
Minister to build on the momentum from President Aliyev's
successful visit to Washington in pushing the relationship

between the U.S. and Azerbaijan to a higher level.


3. (C) Usubov explained the difficulty Azerbaijan had
immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and said
that in Azerbaijan's first years of independence, the GOAJ
proved itself to be incapable of taking control. He said that
it took two years of strenuous effort by former President
Heydar Aliyev to take control of the situation, and that
after these efforts, Azerbaijan became one of the safest
countries in the former Soviet Union. Usubov explained that
adopting new laws was easy, but that implementation remained
a problem because thirty to forty percent of MIA personnel
are disciples of the previous regime. He said that
overturning the legacy of the "totalitarian regime,"
especially people's mentality remains a major challenge to
this day, and that the MIA is making slow but steady progress.


4. (C) The Minister admitted that the MIA has areas in which
progress is still needed. He mentioned specifically that the
MIA still needs to train its personnel to act within the law,
and to continue working to combat terrorism, trafficking in
persons, narcotics trafficking, and illegal immigration.
Usubov said that information-sharing is vital, and thaked
the USG for its support in these measures. Wth strong
efforts like those from the MIA, Usubo continued, Azerbaijan
has the potential to become a great model for the region.


5. (C) The Ambassador raised the issue of human rights,
explaining the importance of meeting international standards
for ethics and rule of law. She said that she would like to
see an Office of the Inspector General or similar
investigative body created within the MIA, and offered to
assist. Usubov said that the opposition's claims of police
brutality are not entirely true, and that the MIA has taken
steps to hold the responsible officers liable for their
offenses. He said that in 2005, a total of 383 police
officers were punished. Out of these, 27 were criminally
charged, 50 were dismissed from the MIA, 32 were demoted
(including 5 high-ranking officers),and 274 were punished by
other means, such as with fines or warnings. He stated that
the MIA is taking the necessary proactive approach, but
acknowledged that out of thousands of police officers, some
do not comply with international standards for ethics and
rule of law. The Minister thanked the Ambassador for her
offer of assistance, and agreed to notify the Embassy if
assistance was needed.


6. (C) COMMENT: The day after the Ambassador's call on
Usubov, the press carried reports that Usubov had taken away
responsibility for supervision of the Ministry's
Interrogations Unit from Deputy Minister Eyvazov. (Eyvazov,
former head of the Ministry's Organized Crime Unit, is
believed to have been responsible for some of that unit's

BAKU 00001083 002 OF 002


more egregious human rights violations in the wake of the
October 2003 presidential elections.) A power struggle
clearly continues in the Ministry, and rumors continue to
circulate that Usubov - who stayed at the helm of the
Ministry in spite of the arrest of an MIA-run kidnapping ring
-- will soon be fired. The trial of those involved in the
Haji Mammadov kidnapping ring is in process; we continue to
monitor events at MIA closely.
DERSE