Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU1793
2006-12-08 14:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

DASD MACDOUGALL'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0363
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHKB #1793/01 3421419
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081419Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1930
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 1890
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0529
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001793 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: DASD MACDOUGALL'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER AZIMOV

REF: BAKU 01753

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001793

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: DASD MACDOUGALL'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER AZIMOV

REF: BAKU 01753

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


1. (C) Summary: Department of Defense Deputy Assistant
Secretary James MacDougall and the Ambassador met with Deputy

SIPDIS
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov on December 7 to discuss the
National Security Concept, Azerbaijan's relations with NATO,
and USG plans for an interagency team to discuss Iran.
Azimov's views on the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) negotiations are
reported septel. Azimov welcomed bilateral military
cooperation with the US because it focuses on developing the
military's "national capacity." Azimov indicated that the
GOAJ recognizes it is not likely to be accepted into NATO any
time soon, while it understands the importance of keeping the
idea of NATO membership alive. On regional security
dynamics, Azimov referred to Russian attempts "to strangle
us," while stating that Tbilisi's unreliable behavior is
often "not in our interest." MacDougall informed Azimov of
plans for a senior-level USG team to discuss Iran-related
issues with the GOAJ, possibly in January. End Summary

Military Cooperation, NSC, and NATO Update
--------------


2. (C) Department of Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary
James MacDougall and the Ambassador--accompanied by EUCOM
Brigadier General Melvin Spiese--met with Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov on December 7. MacDougall began the
meeting by remarking that the relationship has been growing
broader and deeper. In the bilateral military relationship,
one of the next steps is to push more responsibility down to
the level of generals and colonels, so that all issues are
not kept at the ministry level.


3. (C) Azimov noted that he has been working as the head of
an interagency group to draft the National Security Concept
(NSC),reftel. The interagency group will continue as a key
coordinating mechanism on national security issues, Azimov
said. The NSC will lay the basis for the later Military

Doctrine and ultimately will produce a Strategic Defense
Review and Azerbaijan's Foreign Policy Strategy. The US is
"expected and invited" to participate in advising during the
preparation of these documents (septel). Azimov indicated
the MFA may play a coordinating role on these documents. The
NSC document will be reviewed regularly, and a synergy will
need to be created between the Military Doctrine and the
Foreign Policy Strategy. He noted that the documents could
be useful in alleviating bureaucratic turf battles because
the documents will lay out a common vision. (Comment:
Azimov's precise role in coordinating the Military Doctrine
and the Foreign Policy Strategy is ambiguous. He clearly
aspires to play a central coordinating role. He referred to
retired UK General Sir Garry Johnson--who has been advising
the GOAJ on the drafting of the NSC--as his "spy" in the MOD.
Per reftel, UK Ambassador Bristow believes Azimov likely
will be sidelined during the drafting of the Military
Doctrine.)


4. (C) Azimov commented that the Azerbaijani military is
comparatively somewhere between the Georgian and Ukrainian
militaries. Compared to Georgia, Azerbaijan has not had a
revolution. Azerbaijan also has more experience than the
Georgian military. The Azerbaijani military is strongly
influenced by Soviet education, but also has received the
benefit of Turkish education--although a "lubricant" is
needed for these two different educational backgrounds. It
is unfortunate that there are not more US-educated troops in
the Azerbaijani MOD. He suggested that more English-language
training courses for MOD and MFA officers would be a positive
step. The Azerbaijani military is more similar to the
Ukrainian military because they both share a strong
background in Soviet military education.


5. (C) Azimov commented that US military assistance is
helpful. In particular, the goal of cooperation appears
focused on developing the "national capacity" of the
Azerbaijani military. Azerbaijan seeks to raise the quality
of its personnel through joint military cooperation.


6. (C) Azimov commented on Azerbaijan's cooperation with
NATO. Azimov characterized the IPAP as a "useful" instrument
and an area where the GOAJ and the USG can cooperate
bilaterally and within the NATO framework. Spiese agreed

BAKU 00001793 002 OF 003


with this comment, while Azimov said that the GOAJ would
begin elaborating initiatives for its new IPAP that will be
developed in 2007. Azimov indicated new initiatives could
include energy, border, and maritime security. He also noted
that the GOAJ seeks to create a troop unit that could be used
for international missions. Azimov said the key areas where
Azerbaijan works with NATO are political unanimity,
harmonization of its laws, and interoperability. Azimov said
the GOAJ recognizes it is not likely to be accepted into NATO
any time soon. He noted, however, that it is important to
keep the idea of NATO membership alive. Azimov referred to
the above-noted national documents and the IPAP as "building
blocks" and said that specific programs are key. The GOAJ
seeks to deal with NATO in a different manner than the
"headaches" that Georgia has created. Azimov said there are
two GOAJ institutions that work on NATO-related issues: a
NATO council chaired by the Prime Minister and an interagency
working group.


7. (C) MacDougall congratulated Azimov on his leadership
role in drafting the NSC, which is "a big step forward."
MacDougall said DoD would like to support--in an advisory
capacity--the creation of the Military Doctrine. The
Monterey Center for Civil Military Relations could help in
this area. MacDougall noted that in the last six months, he
has observed a deeper commitment within the MOD to move
toward NATO transformation, which is likely a reflection on a
broader GOAJ decision to cooperate closely with NATO. He has
heard good things from NATO officials about Azerbaijan's work
with the alliance. MacDougall observed that NATO officials
likely appreciate that the GOAJ has moved "quietly, but
firmly" toward NATO. MacDougall said he agreed with Azimov's
position that it is best for Azerbaijan to integrate as much
as possible with NATO, while leaving the question of NATO
membership for the future. As Ukraine's orientation toward
the West appears to be slowing, this unfortunately detracts
from Georgia and Azerbaijan's potential membership.

Regional Dynamics
--------------


8. (C) Azimov said that since the early years of
independence, Azerbaijan has had problems with Russia.
Russia "talks in a smooth way, but they still strangle us."
Referring to Russia's continuing imperialistic views, Azimov
said Moscow still has "old perceptions" of Azerbaijan and the
entire South Caucasus. Turning to Georgia, Azimov said that
there are differences in Tbilisi's and Baku's approach to
Moscow and these differences "are not in our interest." The
GOAJ wants to see more reliable and predictable behavior from
Tbilisi. He observed that "continued instability" in Ukraine
is helping Yanukovych, and he was unsure that Ukraine is
"going to be on the winning side," which will leave Georgia
alone. He predicted that Moscow will increase pressure on
Georgia in the coming months. In contrast to Georgia, Azimov
stated, "Azerbaijan is different" because we "represent
another pattern of development." He noted that officials in
Washington probably sleep better at night when they think
about Azerbaijan compared to Georgia.

Iran Consultations
--------------


9. (C) MacDougall told Azimov that the US is preparing to
send a State-DoD team at the Assistant Secretary level to
discuss Iran-related issues with the GOAJ, perhaps in
January. The purpose of the discussion is to share views
about what is going on inside Iran and to discuss how to deal
with the security threat posed by Iran's nuclear programs.
MacDougall asked Azimov to consider which Azerbaijani
representatives would attend these discussions. Increasingly
in Washington, there is an understanding that both the USG
and the GOAJ can benefit from consultations on Iran.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Azimov is perhaps the MFA's key strategic thinker.
Azimov is comfortable discussing broad, philosophical aspects
of the bilateral relationship, but he can easily move into a
detailed discussion of the modalities of a potential NK
settlement. Assuming his thoughts on NATO reflect the view
of other senior GOAJ officials, we can expect to see Baku
maintain a flexible approach with the alliance, while

BAKU 00001793 003 OF 003


assigning a high value to close cooperation. Azimov's
negative comments about Georgia parallel what some other MFA
officers have told us privately. While the GOAJ understands
the importance of Georgia' maintaining its sovereignty in its
relations with Russia, Azerbaijani officials on numerous
occasions have expressed their frustration with Georgia's
international behavior.


11. (U) DASD MacDougall cleared this message.
DERSE