Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU1268
2006-08-25 12:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER "DOES NOT RULE OUT"

Tags:  MARR MOPS PREL LE AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0015
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #1268 2371254
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251254Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1147
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0022
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0007
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0033
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0161
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0468
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001268 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL LE AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER "DOES NOT RULE OUT"
UNIFIL CONTRIBUTION, SEEKS MORE INFORMATION

REF: BAKU 1209

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, per 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001268

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL LE AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER "DOES NOT RULE OUT"
UNIFIL CONTRIBUTION, SEEKS MORE INFORMATION

REF: BAKU 1209

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, per 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) In an August 23 telephone conversation with the
Ambassador, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
said that he had discussed the UNIFIL mission with Jordanian
officials (King Abdullah II paid an official visit to
Azerbaijan August 22-23). The Jordanians, he said, do not
want to contribute troops at this point and, like the
Jordanians, Azerbaijan wants to learn more about the
peacekeeping mission. Mammadyarov said that while the role
of the peacekeepers was very clear in Iraq and Afghanistan
(where Azerbaijan has 151 and 23 troops, respectively) and to
a lesser extent Kosovo (where 34 Azerbaijani troops serve),
this is not presently the case in Lebanon. Mammadyarov added
that Azerbaijan should not be "out in front of everyone
else," and needs more information on what other countries
plan to do. He noted that as Azerbaijan formulates its
policy on UNIFIL, it must also take into consideration the
estimated 30,000 to 35,000 Israeli citizens of Azerbaijani
origin. Mammadyarov said these are his personal views; he
had not yet discussed the issue with President Aliyev or the
Minister of Defense and could not provide a more definitive
position until he does so. He added that he was pleased that
the United States was taking an active interest in
Azerbaijan's position on the issue.


2. (U) In August 23 remarks to the press, Mammadyarov made
the same points, saying that Azerbaijan "does not rule out" a
contribution to the enhanced UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. He
added that a final decision on whether to contribute troops
would be made only after UNIFIL's status and mandate were
clearly determined.


3. (C) Comment: Mammadyarov's August 23 public and private
comments on a possible UNIFIL contribution were far more
positive than his previous comments. In an August 18
conversation with then-Charge, Mammadyarov categorically
rejected any Azerbaijani participation in the enhanced UNIFIL
mission. At the time, he said that Azerbaijani did not want
to get involved in any Lebanon peacekeeping operations but
would send an unspecified amount of humanitarian assistance.
DERSE