ISRAEL ENHANCING MILITARY RELATIONSHIP WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001541

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, NEA - PDAS JEFFREY, PM AND P; USNATO FOR
OLSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MASS IR IS AJ
SUBJECT: ISRAEL ENHANCING MILITARY RELATIONSHIP WITH
AZERBAIJAN

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


1. (U) This is an action request; see para 8.


2. (C) Summary: According to Israeli Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Arthur Lenk, Israeli MOD DG for Political-Military
Affairs Amos Gilad will visit Baku in late October to sign a
new bilateral defense cooperation agreement. Admitting that
the agreement is short on substance, Lenk said it is
nonetheless a significant step that Israel hopes will pave
the way for enhanced mil-mil cooperation and dialogue, and
Israeli assistance in training. Israeli defense companies
already are selling equipment to Azerbaijan under a 2005
agreement. According to Lenk, Israel also hopes for more
regular consultations with the GOAJ on Iran. To that end,
Israel will establish a Defense Attache in Baku (based in
Ankara) and is contemplating providing military cooperation
to Azerbaijan that could support Azerbaijan's integration
into NATO. Lenk sought our views on enhanced Israeli mil-mil
cooperation with Azerbaijan. We have concerns about
unintended negative consequences. The Department's guidance
is requested. End summary.

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LATE OCTOBER DEFENSE AGREEMENT IN THE WORKS
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3. (C) During an October 19 meeting, Israeli Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Arthur Lenk told Ambassador Derse about an
upcoming visit to Azerbaijan by Amos Gilad, Director-General
of the Israeli MOD's Political-Military Directorate, at the
end of the October. Lenk said that an important new
agreement between the Israeli and Azerbaijani defense
ministries will be signed during the visit. Lenk
characterized the agreement as a "good start," even though it
will not be too substantive. Lenk highlighted that the
upcoming agreement follows a September 2005 agreement on
defense industry. The 2005 accord opened the door for
Israeli defense companies to work in Azerbaijan. Lenk said
the upcoming visit likely will include meetings with the
Minister of Defense Industry, the Minister of Emergency
Situations, the President's National Security Advisor, and
the Minister of National Security.


4. (C) Lenk said Israel wants a deeper "strategic dialogue"
with Azerbaijan and hopes for "more regular consultations"
with the GOAJ, particularly concerning Iran. Israel hopes
that discussions on Iran will be an important component of
the upcoming visit and subsequent new defense dialogue. Lenk
observed that the GOAJ has better access to Tehran than Tel
Aviv does. Lenk also stated that President Aliyev is
"clearly nervous" about Iran. He said that this past spring,
Aliyev told the visiting Israeli Energy Minister that Iranian
President Ahmadinejad warned Aliyev that "we're going to
attack the places from where we are attacked."


5. (C) Lenk was hopeful on the prospects for enhanced
Israeli-Azerbaijani cooperation. He told the Ambassador that
multiple GOAJ officials have commented that there is little
limitation on the level of potential cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Israel. Commenting on why Baku perceives an
advantage in closer mil-mil ties with Israel, Lenk noted that
the GOAJ is afraid of Iran, the Israeli defense industry can
offer Azerbaijan expertise and equipment, and the GOAJ's
budget is rapidly growing.

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ISRAELI MILITARY TRAINING FOR AZERBAIJAN?
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6. (C) Noting that Israel intends to establish a Defense
Attache position in Baku (based out of Ankara),Lenk raised
the potential for Israel to provide NATO-related military
cooperation and assistance to the GOAJ. Lenk noted that Tel
Aviv might be able to assist Baku with military training
exercises. Lenk remarked that Israeli assistance in this
area would aim to support Azerbaijan's integration within
NATO. Lenk commented that Israeli assistance might be of
value especially given the USG limitations on security
cooperation with the Azerbaijani military. Lenk acknowledged

BAKU 00001541 002 OF 002


that he was not aware of all the specific forms of military
assistance that Israel could offer, but he was confident that
Israel was willing to help in this area.

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COMMENTS ON THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY MINISTER
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7. (C) Lenk provided several observations about Azerbaijan's
new Minister of Defense Industry, Yaver Jamalov. Lenk noted
that Jamalov "still does not know what he does not know."
Lenk acknowledged that Jamalov's previous background in the
oil industry may have given him valuable experience in
administering one industry that could be transferred to a
different industry. Lenk also remarked that Jamalov traveled
to Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey in September. Lenk suggested
that Jamalov's recent visits likely were for "shopping"
purposes.

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ACTION REQUEST
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8. (C) Action Request: Post requests the Department's views
on proposed Israeli mil-mil assistance to Azerbaijan. While
Israel is a good friend and ally of the United States, we are
concerned that an increased Israeli presence -- particularly
a military presence -- in this Shi'a Muslim state on the
border of Iran could create unintended negative consequences
for our own ongoing military cooperation and broader regional
security objectives. We also note that Lenk was recently
quoted in the press here as highlighting that "Israel's,
Azerbaijan's and the United States' interests in the region
coincide."
DERSE