Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU1270
2006-08-28 11:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV RALLIES HIS

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR AJ AM 
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VZCZCXRO2826
RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHKB #1270/01 2401150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281150Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1149
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1711
RUEHVEN/USMISSION OSCE VIENNA AU
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
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

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