AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV RALLIES HIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001270 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR AJ AM SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV RALLIES HIS DIPLOMATIC TROOPS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU): Summary: The GOAJ hosted its second Chiefs of Mission conference with more than 40 Ambassadors meeting in Baku the week of August 14. President Aliyev encouraged the diplomats to remain flexible and reactive to processes and events taking place in and around Azerbaijan. Aliyev also called on the ambassadors to be more active in informing the international community of Azerbaijan's position on Nagorno-Karabakh. Aliyev emphasized that all Azerbaijani embassies must start an "information attack" to fight against the influence of the Armenian lobby. President Aliyev appointed Azerbaijan's former Ambassador to the U.S., Hafiz Pashayev, as Deputy Foreign Minister and Rector of the newly established Diplomatic Academy. Local news agencies reported that Yashar Aliyev, former Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UN, is expected to be the new ambassador to the United States. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) At Azerbaijan's second annual Chiefs of Mission conference, more than 40 ambassadors reviewed activities implemented during the past two years and discussed short-term and long-term foreign policy goals. According to local press reports, Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov briefed the participants about government activities over the past two years, stressing that the GOAJ had signed 39 international conventions and 300 bilateral agreements. According to Foreign Minister Mammadyarov the number of Azerbaijani Embassies abroad has reached 46 and Azerbaijan has developed diplomatic relations with more than 160 states. AZERBAIJAN'S FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Addressing the ambassadorial meeting, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted foreign policy priorities of Azerbaijan, particularly emphasizing the significance of bilateral relations with its neighbors. "A lot depends on Azerbaijan's policy in the region now. Not a single political, economic, transport or any other kind of project can be carried out without Azerbaijan. This strengthens our country," the president said in his speech. He also talked about the number of multilateral programs that Azerbaijan participates in, including NATO's Partnership for Peace, the EU Neighborhood policy, the CIS, Council of Europe, and GUAM partnership. Citing the creation of more than 435,000 jobs during the past two years, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan's rapid economic development would make the economy attractive to new investment opportunities. He called on the diplomats to help attract more international investment into Azerbaijan's economy. CALL FOR "INFORMATION ATTACK" TO ADVANCE N-K ISSUE -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) President Aliyev told the assembled ambassadors that Azerbaijan will not allow the creation of a second Armenian state in Azerbaijan, adding that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should only be resolved within the framework of international law, using a step by step approach. Aliyev stated that the Azerbaijani lands under occupation must be freed from the occupying forces, and refugees and internally displaced people must return to their homes, as well as to Nagorno Karabakh. Once this has happened, the status of Nagorno Karabakh may be discussed. ¶5. (SBU) President Aliyev stated that the international norms of law, as well as the existing positive practice and experience, should be applied when the status is discussed. Aliyev encouraged Armenia to accept the proposals that are on the table now, since the existing environment will not be this favorable once oil revenues make Azerbaijan a strong, rich and powerful state. President Aliyev encouraged the diplomats to be flexible and reactive to processes and events taking place in and around Azerbaijan. Aliyev also called on the ambassadors to be more active in informing the international community of Azerbaijan's position on N-K and to launch an "information attack" to counter-balance influence of Armenian lobby. NEW DIPLOMATIC ASSIGNMENTS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On August 15 President Aliyev announced the appointment of Hafiz Pashayev, the former Azerbaijani BAKU 00001270 002 OF 002 Ambassador to the U.S., and uncle to First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, as the new Deputy Foreign Minister and Rector of the newly created Diplomatic Academy at the Foreign Ministry. After Pashayev's appointment, local news agencies speculated that Azerbaijan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Yashar Aliyev, will become the new Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. and that Akshin Mehdiyev, head of the permanent mission to CoE, will become the Azerbaijani Ambassador to UN. DERSE