Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU154
2006-02-02 14:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN: MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND SPORTS, YOUTH,
how-toVZCZCXRO0401 PP RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0154 0331427 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021427Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9506 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0504
UNCLAS BAKU 000154
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; INR
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SCUL KPAO RU AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND SPORTS, YOUTH,
AND TOURISM RESHUFFLED
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
UNCLAS BAKU 000154
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; INR
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SCUL KPAO RU AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND SPORTS, YOUTH,
AND TOURISM RESHUFFLED
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) On January 30, President Aliyev issued a decree to
establish two new ministries out of two established
ministries. The Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Tourism has
now become simply the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The
Ministry of Culture is now the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism (MCT). Former Minister of Sports, Youth, and
Tourism, Abulfaz Garayev, was appointed Minister of the new
Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The former Minister of
Culture, Polad Bulbuloglu was named Ambassador to Russia, a
post that has been vacant for more than a month. The new
Minister of Youth and Sports has yet to be named, although
the decision is expected in the coming weeks. It is rumored
the new Minister will be the son of Presidential Chief of
Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev. The younger Mehdiyev currently serves
as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
BIO NOTES AND EXPECTATIONS
2. (SBU) Rumors that Bulbuloglu would be named Ambassador to
Russia have circulated for weeks. Bulbuloglu, a well-known
singer and composer, is close to President Aliyev and this
appointment is rumored to be a reward for his orchestration
of the First Lady's appointment as a UNESCO Ambassador. He
has extensive contacts within the Russian cultural elite and
lived with his first wife, a famous Russian singer, in Moscow
for several years. His son from that first marriage and his
ex-wife still reside in Moscow. He has already stated that
one of his priorities will be to work to unite the
Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia and make Azerbaijan's embassy
a true home for them. (It is estimated that there may be as
many as two million Azerbaijanis working in Russia).
Bulbuloglu was not the most accessible interlocutor for the
Embassy, however, and is very much an Old Guard figure.
3. (SBU) Garayev, who speaks good English, has excellent ties
with the Embassy. He also comes from an artistic family and
is often seen at Baku's cultural events. Garayev lacks the
insights into Azerbaijan's artistic community that his
predecessor had mastered, although Garayev will be familiar
with his tourism portfolio from his previous position. The
press has reported that Garayev's top priority will be to
integrate cultural preservation into Azerbaijan's tourism
development plans. His more limited cultural background may
not matter: Garayev is very close to President Aliyev, dating
from Aliyev's days as head of Azerbaijan's Olympic Committee.
Garayev and his wife still socialize with the Aliyevs, and
sources indicate their daughters are close friends as well.
We have also heard, however, that the appointment was a
surprise to him and that he harbors ambitions to be appointed
to the more influential (and lucrative) job of Baku Mayor.
In terms of public visibility, the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism is a big step up from his previous ministry for
Garayev.
HARNISH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; INR
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SCUL KPAO RU AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND SPORTS, YOUTH,
AND TOURISM RESHUFFLED
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) On January 30, President Aliyev issued a decree to
establish two new ministries out of two established
ministries. The Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Tourism has
now become simply the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The
Ministry of Culture is now the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism (MCT). Former Minister of Sports, Youth, and
Tourism, Abulfaz Garayev, was appointed Minister of the new
Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The former Minister of
Culture, Polad Bulbuloglu was named Ambassador to Russia, a
post that has been vacant for more than a month. The new
Minister of Youth and Sports has yet to be named, although
the decision is expected in the coming weeks. It is rumored
the new Minister will be the son of Presidential Chief of
Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev. The younger Mehdiyev currently serves
as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
BIO NOTES AND EXPECTATIONS
2. (SBU) Rumors that Bulbuloglu would be named Ambassador to
Russia have circulated for weeks. Bulbuloglu, a well-known
singer and composer, is close to President Aliyev and this
appointment is rumored to be a reward for his orchestration
of the First Lady's appointment as a UNESCO Ambassador. He
has extensive contacts within the Russian cultural elite and
lived with his first wife, a famous Russian singer, in Moscow
for several years. His son from that first marriage and his
ex-wife still reside in Moscow. He has already stated that
one of his priorities will be to work to unite the
Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia and make Azerbaijan's embassy
a true home for them. (It is estimated that there may be as
many as two million Azerbaijanis working in Russia).
Bulbuloglu was not the most accessible interlocutor for the
Embassy, however, and is very much an Old Guard figure.
3. (SBU) Garayev, who speaks good English, has excellent ties
with the Embassy. He also comes from an artistic family and
is often seen at Baku's cultural events. Garayev lacks the
insights into Azerbaijan's artistic community that his
predecessor had mastered, although Garayev will be familiar
with his tourism portfolio from his previous position. The
press has reported that Garayev's top priority will be to
integrate cultural preservation into Azerbaijan's tourism
development plans. His more limited cultural background may
not matter: Garayev is very close to President Aliyev, dating
from Aliyev's days as head of Azerbaijan's Olympic Committee.
Garayev and his wife still socialize with the Aliyevs, and
sources indicate their daughters are close friends as well.
We have also heard, however, that the appointment was a
surprise to him and that he harbors ambitions to be appointed
to the more influential (and lucrative) job of Baku Mayor.
In terms of public visibility, the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism is a big step up from his previous ministry for
Garayev.
HARNISH