DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SADIKOV SAYS "THE TIME IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001715 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR P, G; ALSO FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL AJ PK EG MY SUBJECT: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SADIKOV SAYS "THE TIME IS RIGHT" FOR USG TO ENGAGE WITH THE OIC REF: A. STATE 158801 ¶B. STATE 171576 ¶C. JEDDAH 00695 ¶D. BAKU 01681 Classified By: Ambassador Anne Derse for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador met with Deputy Foreign Minister Vagif Sadikov November 20 to discuss Azerbaijan's priorities as the chair of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)'s Foreign Ministers' Conference. According to Sadikov, the GOAJ seeks to "breathe new life" into the organization and be a voice for moderation. Azerbaijan views OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu as a dynamic leader seeking to revitalize the OIC and believes key member states back the need for internal OIC reforms. The GOAJ is pursuing three initiatives within the OIC: supporting a conference on the media's role in promoting tolerance; creating a new ministeral forum for law-enforcement agencies; and fostering an OIC-EU dialogue on promoting religious tolerance in school textbooks. Sadikov applauded U/S Burns' outreach to the OIC, commenting that "the time is right" for the USG to engage more closely with the OIC; we strongly endorse the OIC's request for high-level USG representation at the April 2007 conference on the media and tolerance (ref d). End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met with Deputy Foreign Minister Vagif Sadikov November 20 to discuss U/S Burns' outreach to the OIC Secretary General, Azerbaijan's priorities in the SIPDIS Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) for the remainder of its tenure as Chair of the Foreign Minsters' Conference, and the USG's interest in engaging with the organization. The Ambassador noted that the strong US-Azerbaijani relationship is based on three interrealted areas: bolstering regional and global stability, diversifying energy sources, and strengthening economic and democratic reforms. There is an opportunity to develop the US-Azerbaijani relationship in the context of President Aliyev's April visit to Washington. The USG is interested in cooperating with the GOAJ as it chairs the OIC's Foreign Ministers Conference. (Note: Sadikov said the GOAJ will complete its chairmanship in May, when Pakistan will assume the chairmanship. The GOAJ will remain a member of the OIC Troika for the next year, however.) The Ambassador briefed Sadikov on the ongoing dialogue between U/S Burns and OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu regarding inter-faith dialogue SIPDIS and increased interaction between the OIC and the U.S. (refs a-c). Background on the OIC -------------- ¶3. (C) Sadikov said the GOAJ has been an OIC member since ¶1991. Sadikov remarked that the OIC is important for Azerbaijan at three levels: it is a major international organization; it includes many (57) countries; and it has been supportive of Azerbaijan's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Regarding NK, Sadikov explained that the GOAJ is sensitive to not using the OIC as a forum to cast the conflict as a religious clash. "The Time is Right" for US-OIC Engagement -------------- ¶4. (C) Commenting on the potential for the US to work with the OIC, and U/S Burns' discussions with OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu, Sadikov said "the time is right" for cooperation. He reviewed several internal OIC processes that underscore the opportunity for the US to work more closely with a revitalized organization. First, Ihsanoglu is a motivated, dynamic leader. He has a strong background in public diplomacy and a good network of relations among members. Second, there is growing sense among some members that the OIC needs to be reformed. This energy needs to be channeled in the right direction so the OIC becomes "more open" and "really instrumental." Sadikov identified Egypt, Malaysia, and Pakistan as states that seek to reform the organization. At Pakistan's initiative two years ago, there were expert-level discussions on examining proposals for reforming the organization. These discussions prompted the Ten Year Action Program that was adopted in December 2005. BAKU 00001715 002 OF 003 The document lays out specific reforms for the OIC to address. GOAJ's views on the OIC -------------- ¶5. (C) President Aliyev, according to Sadikov, played a key role in formulating the GOAJ's policy of using its OIC leadership role to "breathe new life" into the organization. Sadikov acknowledged that the GOAJ has a large agenda for the OIC, but Baku seeks to add a fresh perspective to the organization. The GOAJ also sees itself as a voice of moderation within the OIC. ¶6. (C) Sadikov said he was optimistic about the prospects for internal OIC reforms. Sadikov was particularly upbeat about OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu because he "has breathed new life into the organization" and "seeks to keep the organization relevant and upgrade its work." The OIC is a "good framework," according to Sadikov, which the GOAJ seeks to build upon by offering concrete proposals. As an example of the OIC's more open approach, Sadikov noted that the OIC organized a meeting of Iraqi Sunni and Shia in Mecca, with the goal of promoting tolerance. In addition, the OIC moderated Iran's initial nuclear proposals at the June OIC summit in Baku. ¶7. (C) Sadikov acknowledged the OIC's internal cohesion problems, remarking that many of the broader Islamic world's challenges are reflected within the OIC. He said there are three clusters of members: the big, influential Arab states; South Asia and Southeast Asia; and Post-Soviet Muslim states. These three groups have different priorities, which is sometimes reflected in the OIC'S varying positions. The members have diverse cultural, historical, educational, and political orientations, which sometimes makes its functions "difficult." Azerbaijan's OIC Priorities -------------- ¶8. (C) Sadikov reviewed three projects that are the GOAJ's top OIC priorities: ¶A. Conference on "The Role of the Media in Promoting Tolerance and Understanding," to be held in April 2007 (ref d). Baku helped put forward this initiative within the OIC, which the MFA and the OIC Secretariat will co-sponsor. The GOAJ seeks to invite 120-150 representatives from the media, academia, NGO's, and international organizations to this conference. Sadikov said that probable invitees include representatives from Amnesty International, Reporters without Borders, Human Rights Watch, International Press Institute, CNN, Reuters, Al Jazeera, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE. Sadikov emphasized that the GOAJ sought "a less formal approach" in selecting invitees than the OIC's more rigid approach of inviting country delegations. The GOAJ also hopes the conference will be hosted within the framework of the UN "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative that seeks to overcome misunderstanding between Western and Islamic societies. The GOAJ hopes to send invitations by year's end. Sadikov reiterated Foreign Minister Mammadyarov's request for senior US representation at the event (ref d). Sadikov said the MFA would welcome USG suggestions for the invitee list after it is finalized. Sadikov also remarked that he hoped the conference would conclude with a positive, strong final communique stressing the importance of the media in promoting tolerance. ¶B. Create an OIC ministerial meeting for heads of law enforcement agencies. While there are ministerial meetings for culture, economy, tourism, and other spheres, the GOAJ believes that a new forum needs to be created for addressing transnational issues. Sadikov candidly noted that many transnational problems, such as terrorism and money laundering, emanate from OIC countries. Some OIC countries were initially resistant to this proposal. Sadikov said the Iranian representatives were skeptical of the proposal because they had they had organized a meeting of OIC police BAKU 00001715 003 OF 003 chiefs several months before Baku raised this proposal. The GOAJ argued that the ministerial's purpose is to institutionalize a focus on transnational problems, while maintaining a flexible approach. For example, the ministeral would include different types of law enforcement agencies (eg. customs, police chiefs),depending on the particular issue being addressed. Furthermore, the ministerial would address a wide spectrum of transnational problems. Sadikov said that experts will examine the rules and modalities of this proposal in January or February. Sadikov said Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt, and Pakistan are interested in this proposal and are likely to attend this expert-level meeting. They will produce a terms of reference document, which will be forwarded to Pakistan in May 2007, when it assumes the chairmanship of the Foreign Minsters Conference. ¶C. Engage in an EU-OIC dialogue on promoting religious tolerance in school textbooks. The purpose is to ensure that textbooks foster mutual understanding and religious tolerance. The GOAJ is currently preparing materials for expert-level meetings on this topic. Tidbits on GOAJ Financial Intelligence Unit -------------- ¶9. (C) The Ambassador reminded Sadikov that the USG is ready to assist the GOAJ with its financial intelligence unit once the enabling legislation is passed. The US can provide training programs. Sadikov thanked the Ambassador for the US support, acknowledging that "the key is implementation" of the legislation and Baku could benefit from Washington's assistance in this area. Sadikov said the law is in Parliament, but he didn't know when it would be debated. In response to the Ambassador's question, Sadikov said that the Ministry of Finance probably would be the most appropriate ministry to host the unit. (However, the GOAJ has not yet identified which ministry would host the unit; the Ministry of National Security and National Bank of Azerbaijan also are under consideration.) Tidbits on Iranian Charities -------------- ¶10. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, Sadikov was confident that the GOAJ has a good handle on Iranian charities that may seek to radicalize refugee groups. He explained that the State Committee on Refugees monitors such charities. In addition, the MFA and the Ministry of National Security screen charities before they are registered. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) The USG has a unique opportunity to work with the GOAJ to reinforce our goal of promoting reform, freedom, and tolerance in the Muslim world. The upcoming OIC-GOAJ conference on "The Role of the Media in Promoting Tolerance and Understanding," presents an excellent opportunity to build on the OIC engagement initiated by U/S Burns, and we strongly endorse FM Mammadyarov,s request for senior-level USG representation. DERSE