NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE

UNCLAS BAKU 000269

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PREL PGOV ECON PTER AJ
SUBJECT: NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES WITH AMBASSADOR



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 16, Ambassador and USAID
Country Coordinator called on the new Speaker of Parliament,
Ogtay Asadov. Asadov and Ambassador agreed on the need for
May parliamentary rerun elections to be democratic and
expressed confidence that Parliament would exercise a greater
role of authority in the GOAJ. Asadov welcomed USG
assistance to strengthen Parliament, but noted that
Parliament already acted as an independent, professional, and
representative body. He listed to Ambassador several of the
projects he had in mind to improve the physical
infrastructure of Parliament and improve the well-being of
MPs. He also reported that discussions were ongoing as to
this year's legislative calendar, but that the Parliament
would consider amendments to the Law on Education, create a
new pension system, and would also pass a new money
laundering law by June. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Ambassador congratulated Asadov on his new position
and welcomed closer cooperation between the USG and the Milli
Mejlis (Parliament). Ambassador highlighted the need for the
May 13 rerun elections of ten parliamentary seats to be run
democratically. Asadov agreed, affirming that the reruns
would be democratic and reporting that measures had already
been taken against election and local government officials
who had committed fraud in November. He said the GOAJ was in
a time of transition and could not immediately reach the
level of democracy present in Western Europe, but he
expressed confidence that the GOAJ would continue to make
progress towards this goal. Asadov asked for greater
cooperation between the US Congress and the Milli Mejlis,
including more opportunities for Azerbaijani MPs to visit the
United States. Ambassador agreed that closer ties between
the two legislative bodies was important, but that it was
also important for the USG overall to develop closer ties
with the Milli Mejlis.

SPEAKER WELCOMES USG ASSISTANCE
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3. (SBU) Ambassador underscored the need for Parliament to
exercise greater independence from the Presidential Apparat
and for MPs to represent their constituents in a deliberative
manner. With Parliament's greater diversity and the
introduction of single-member mandates, the timing was ripe
for Parliament to exercise greater authority. Ambassador
highlighted USG programs that could assist with this task,
specifically the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program
and several USAID projects currently under development.
These programs, he said, would help MPs be more in touch with
their constituents by establishing constituency offices in
the regions and would help develop professional staff and
legislative drafting expertise. USAID Country Coordinator
also highlighted the specifics of AID's ongoing projects to
help strengthen Parliament.


4. (SBU) Asadov responded that the GOAJ would welcome USG
assistance. He said that MPs are already responsive to their
constituents, as reflected by the fact that 60 percent of the
Parliament was new. The MPs who lost their seats, he
explained, had lost because they were not in touch with their
voters. Many MPs already have offices out in the regions and
keep working hours, but he said he would be receptive to USG
help to set up offices for those who do not. He commented
that he also was working to build the professionalism of
Parliament, and had begun to do so by addressing
infrastructural needs. Highlighting his impressions from his
recent visit to the Turkish Parliament, he said it was his
goal to give all MPs normal working conditions, including
renovating offices and providing members with computers. In
response to the Ambassador's suggestion that he could also
work to improve the capacity of the committees to carry out
the day-to-day work of the Parliament, Asadov responded that
new personnel were being hired. Asadov also noted that it
was important for MPs to be well-rounded; he said he intended
to work on healthcare, sports, and recreational programs for
MPs and the staff.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
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5. (SBU) Asadov also remarked on his plans for the coming
year's legislative calendar. He said in the past, the goal
was quantity of laws, not quality. Now, he said, the
Parliament would look at Azerbaijan's laws and pass
amendments to modernize them and ensure that they conform
with international standards. He specifically highlighted
that Parliament would be addressing the Law on Education and
a new pension system. Ambassador asked Asadov to consider
passing a money laundering law that USG experts have helped
draft. Ambassador underscored the importance of the law for

fighting corruption and terrorist financing. Asadov
responded that a working group had already been established
on the law and it would likely be adopted by June.
Ambassador also asked Asadov to consider carefully ODIHR's
recommendations on amendments to election legislation.
Asadov's assistant responded that the GOAJ was already
working with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and
would formally meet in April to discuss necessary changes.
HARNISH