AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON CENTRAL ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001496

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM PBTS AJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON CENTRAL ELECTION
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN MAZAHIR PANAHOV


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In her October 4 introductory call on Central
Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Mazahir Panahov, the
Ambassador highlighted the interlinked priorities in the
bilateral relationship: cooperation in regional and global
stability and security; energy security; and strengthening
democracy through political and economic reform. She outlined
the building blocks of a strong democracy: rule of law; a
strong political process; a free and independent media; an
engaged citizenry; and respect for human rights. Chairman
Panahov briefed the Ambassador on the CEC's preparations for
Azerbaijan's October 6 partial Municipal Elections, and
shared his opinion that the international community places
too much emphasis on specifics like finger-inking, and not
enough on the integrity of the overall process of democracy.
Panahov said that the Municipal Councils' role is gradually
strengthening. Mentioning Azerbaijan's security situation, he
said that eventual NATO membership would be the "only way"
for Azerbaijan to emain secure. Panahov said that the
conflict in Ngorno-Karabakh and the occupied territories is
te biggest impediment to Azerbaijan's democratic reform. He
also cautioned that a growing view in Azerbaijan that the
West's position on Armenia and the N-K conflict reflects a
double standard toward this Muslim country could undercut
support for Azerbaijan's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. END
SUMMARY.

BILATERAL PRIORITIES
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2. (C) During her October 4 introductory call on Chairman of
the Central Election Commission Mazahir Panahov, the
Ambassador outlined the priorities in the U.S.-Azerbaijani
bilateral relationship: cooperation in the Global War on
Terror and ensuring regional and global security and
stability, global energy security, and advancing democracy
through political and economic reform. She noted that while
in recent years, observers have been focused on Azerbaijan's
elections, all five building blocks of democracy are
important in democratic reform: rule of law and a strong
judicial and legal system; a viable political process,
including elections, political parties, and Parliament; a
free and independent media; an engaged, empowered, educated
citizenry; and respect for human rights. The Ambassador also
underscored the importance of economic freedom and
development in establishing an environment that will foster
democratic development.

MUNICIPAL COUNCILS VS. THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONS
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3. (C) Chairman Panahov said that although elections are
important in every country, they are particularly important
in Azerbaijan. He shared his opinion that Azerbaijanis are
gradually beginning to understand the importance of Municipal
Councils. According to Panahov, most of the population
prefers the elected Municipal Councils to the
bureaucratically-appointed Executive Commissions (ExComms),
and in some cities there is increasing friction between the
two. Panahov said that in the future, Municipal Councils will
play an increasingly important role, and that the ExComm
structure will change, requiring commissioners to be elected.
He explained that Azerbaijan's regions are still home to many
"babies of the communist system," but that the country's
youth view the role of local government differently and will
be able to change the system.

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
--------------


4. (C) Panahov told the Ambassador that each completed step
of the electoral process had gone smoothly, including the
registration process and campaign season. He expressed his
optimism that election day would also pass in a fair and
free, transparent manner. Panahov said that after the Soviet
Union's collapse, most problems in Azerbaijan's electoral
process arose during the registration process, such as
candidate intimidation. He said that improvement in the
registration process indicated improvement in Azerbaijan's
overall electoral process.

ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS
--------------


5. (C) The Chairman said that the CEC had sufficient
anti-fraud measures in place, such as finger-inking, although
he explained that using finger ink in this election is
technically illegal because the May 11, 2005 Presidential
decree mandating the use of finger ink was intended only for
the Parliamentary Elections. Panahov shared his opinion that

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the international community had paid too much attention to
the use of finger ink in the November 2005 Parliamentary
Elections. He said that the level of fraud prevented by
finger-inking was "not worth its cost." According to Panahov,
President Aliyev's decision to directly punish the members of
the ExComms for interfering in elections made the most
significant change to Azerbaijan's election climate.

PANAHOV'S COMMENTS ON AZERBAIJAN'S SECURITY INTERESTS...
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Panahov brought up Azerbaijan's security interests. He
said that becoming an eventual NATO member would be the "only
way" for Azerbaijan to remain secure. Pahanov shared his
opinion that, as a Muslim state, Azerbaijan is in a more
sensitive position than Georgia and Armenia - making NATO
membership a higher priority. He said that other Muslim
countries do not accept Azerbaijan as a truly Muslim state
because of the population's preference of western culture and
lifestyle. Panahov emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan
being supported by strong countries like the U.S. to remain
safe and secure.

...AND DEMOCRATIC REFORM
--------------


7. (C) According to Panahov, although most of the Azerbaijani
population prefers the western lifestyle, many also feel that
the U.S. and western European countries have double, "even
triple" standards when it comes to Armenia and the conflict
in Nagorno-Karabakh and the occupied territories. He
complained that the international community is not doing
enough to help resolve the N-K conflict, and said that this
conflict is the single greatest impediment to Azerbaijan's
overall democratic reform. Panahov cautioned that most
Azerbaijanis do not openly express their frustration with the
West's position on N-K, but that this is a sentiment shared
by most of the population "on the inside." He also said that
losing Nagorno-Karabakh and the occupied territories would
"put Azerbaijani society back by decades," as Azerbaijanis
would quickly become disenchanted with the West.
DERSE