Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU455
2006-03-23 13:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
UPDATE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH: CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO9295 RR RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0455/01 0821317 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 231317Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9946 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0416
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000455
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/SNEC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS ASEC AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH: CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS
CONTINUE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000455
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/SNEC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS ASEC AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH: CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS
CONTINUE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) Militant rhetoric on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
during the past week followed reports of ceasefire
violations and an announcement that three soldiers were
convicted of treason for collusion with Armenia. Meanwhile
President Aliyev called on the Armenians to accept the
useful suggestions of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Below is
the first of regular Embassy Baku snapshot reporting on
Nagorno-Karabakh related incidents and statements in
Azerbaijan.
TWO SOLDIERS KILLED ON LOC
--------------
2. (U) Ceasefire violations along the line of contact have
become increasingly frequent in the past week. Azerbaijani
press reports that Armenian troops have been firing near the
villages of Gazakh, Aghdam, Terter, and other front-line
villages. The Ministry of Defense reported that during
March 18-19, Armenian soldiers twice attempted forward
movement from their current positions. Reports indicate
fatalities on both sides, including two Azerbaijani soldiers
and one wounded Azerbaijani soldier. No information was
available regarding Armenian casualties. Independent TV
station ANS sent a correspondent to the area to broadcast
footage on March 19, during which gunfire could be heard in
the background.
THREE SOLDIERS CONVICTED FOR TREASON
--------------
3. (U) The Ministry of National Security just released
information that on October 7, 2005, three soldiers (one
junior sergeant and two privates) were convicted on charges
of treason and sentenced to 11 to 12 years' prison time.
The press reported that the soldiers deserted to the
Armenian side in February 2005 and were trained from
February to May 2005 to set off explosives along the Baku-
Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the president's usual travel
routes, and the Baku airport. The three were returned to
Azerbaijan from Armenian "camps" with the assistance of the
International Committee of the Red Cross but according to
reports, did not detail the "training" they allegedly had
received. The MNS did not release details as to how the
alleged plot was uncovered. The soldiers were convicted on
charges of treason, desertion, violation of the code of
military conduct, and the misuse of authority during
engagement or battle.
KLO PROTESTS ARMENIAN PRESENCE AT CONFERENCE
--------------
4. (SBU) Against this backdrop, on March 16 the Karabakh
Liberation Organization (KLO) attempted to stage a protest
at the Radisson Park Inn Hotel because of the participation
of an Armenian delegation in an OSCE transportation
conference. Police prevented the protest and detained
several members who had entered the hotel until the
conference finished on March 17. A USG representative at
the conference told EconOff that the participants were
unaware of the scuffle and that the only mention of the
incident at the press conference for the event was a
question on who issued visas to the Armenians.
OFFICIAL RHETORIC CONTINUES
--------------
5. (U) In a speech at a Novruz event on March 21, President
Aliyev stated clearly the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan is not up for negotiation and said the patience
of the Azerbaijani people is not without limit. He blamed
Armenia for not being constructive and discussed the damage
Armenia may face due to its "self-isolation" from regional
projects. Similarly, the President's International
Relations Advisor Novruz Mammadov also was reported as
saying that Azerbaijan may change its viewpoint on
negotiations if Armenia maintains its "radical" position.
However, Mammadov also did not exclude the possibility of
new meetings between the Foreign Ministers and possibly even
the Presidents in 2006. Press reports over the weekend also
speculated about a direct correlation between perceived
intensified USG efforts to negotiate a settlement as the
chances for conflict with Iran increase.
COUNTER-NOTE SOUNDED AT WORLD AZERI CONGRESS
--------------
BAKU 00000455 002 OF 002
6. (U) During a speech on a number of topics, President
Aliyev voiced conciliatory themes on a day when EUR
Assistant Secretary Dan Fried was meeting with Armenian
President Kocharian. Aliyev said Azerbaijan will remain
"loyal" to the negotiations. He said Azerbaijan wants to
solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem through peaceful means.
Once the occupied territories were regained, he pledged to
rebuild the infrastructure. Aliyev called on Armenia to
agree on the very useful suggestions of the Minsk Group Co-
Chairs.
HARNISH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/SNEC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS ASEC AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH: CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS
CONTINUE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) Militant rhetoric on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
during the past week followed reports of ceasefire
violations and an announcement that three soldiers were
convicted of treason for collusion with Armenia. Meanwhile
President Aliyev called on the Armenians to accept the
useful suggestions of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Below is
the first of regular Embassy Baku snapshot reporting on
Nagorno-Karabakh related incidents and statements in
Azerbaijan.
TWO SOLDIERS KILLED ON LOC
--------------
2. (U) Ceasefire violations along the line of contact have
become increasingly frequent in the past week. Azerbaijani
press reports that Armenian troops have been firing near the
villages of Gazakh, Aghdam, Terter, and other front-line
villages. The Ministry of Defense reported that during
March 18-19, Armenian soldiers twice attempted forward
movement from their current positions. Reports indicate
fatalities on both sides, including two Azerbaijani soldiers
and one wounded Azerbaijani soldier. No information was
available regarding Armenian casualties. Independent TV
station ANS sent a correspondent to the area to broadcast
footage on March 19, during which gunfire could be heard in
the background.
THREE SOLDIERS CONVICTED FOR TREASON
--------------
3. (U) The Ministry of National Security just released
information that on October 7, 2005, three soldiers (one
junior sergeant and two privates) were convicted on charges
of treason and sentenced to 11 to 12 years' prison time.
The press reported that the soldiers deserted to the
Armenian side in February 2005 and were trained from
February to May 2005 to set off explosives along the Baku-
Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the president's usual travel
routes, and the Baku airport. The three were returned to
Azerbaijan from Armenian "camps" with the assistance of the
International Committee of the Red Cross but according to
reports, did not detail the "training" they allegedly had
received. The MNS did not release details as to how the
alleged plot was uncovered. The soldiers were convicted on
charges of treason, desertion, violation of the code of
military conduct, and the misuse of authority during
engagement or battle.
KLO PROTESTS ARMENIAN PRESENCE AT CONFERENCE
--------------
4. (SBU) Against this backdrop, on March 16 the Karabakh
Liberation Organization (KLO) attempted to stage a protest
at the Radisson Park Inn Hotel because of the participation
of an Armenian delegation in an OSCE transportation
conference. Police prevented the protest and detained
several members who had entered the hotel until the
conference finished on March 17. A USG representative at
the conference told EconOff that the participants were
unaware of the scuffle and that the only mention of the
incident at the press conference for the event was a
question on who issued visas to the Armenians.
OFFICIAL RHETORIC CONTINUES
--------------
5. (U) In a speech at a Novruz event on March 21, President
Aliyev stated clearly the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan is not up for negotiation and said the patience
of the Azerbaijani people is not without limit. He blamed
Armenia for not being constructive and discussed the damage
Armenia may face due to its "self-isolation" from regional
projects. Similarly, the President's International
Relations Advisor Novruz Mammadov also was reported as
saying that Azerbaijan may change its viewpoint on
negotiations if Armenia maintains its "radical" position.
However, Mammadov also did not exclude the possibility of
new meetings between the Foreign Ministers and possibly even
the Presidents in 2006. Press reports over the weekend also
speculated about a direct correlation between perceived
intensified USG efforts to negotiate a settlement as the
chances for conflict with Iran increase.
COUNTER-NOTE SOUNDED AT WORLD AZERI CONGRESS
--------------
BAKU 00000455 002 OF 002
6. (U) During a speech on a number of topics, President
Aliyev voiced conciliatory themes on a day when EUR
Assistant Secretary Dan Fried was meeting with Armenian
President Kocharian. Aliyev said Azerbaijan will remain
"loyal" to the negotiations. He said Azerbaijan wants to
solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem through peaceful means.
Once the occupied territories were regained, he pledged to
rebuild the infrastructure. Aliyev called on Armenia to
agree on the very useful suggestions of the Minsk Group Co-
Chairs.
HARNISH