AZERBAIJAN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000458 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016 TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PREL AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT DELIVERED Classified By: DCM JASON HYLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D. ¶1. (SBU) On March 17 DCM presented the 2005 Human Rights Report (HRR) to Deputy Foreign Minister for Democratization, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Problems Mahmud Mamadguliyev. Mamadguliyev stated that the GOAJ recognizes the situation in Azerbaijan is ¬ ideal,8 but noted that the GOAJ was taking steps in the right direction. He said he ®retted8 the fact that portions of the HRR appeared to be based solely on NGO reports and welcomed greater cooperation between the USG and the GOAJ on human rights. Mamadguliyev also asked that the report reflect the problems and the obstacles the GOAJ faces in reform, namely the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the related challenge of providing assistance to IDPs and refugees from that conflict. Mamadguliyev said the GOAJ would issue a written response to the HRR in Washington at an unspecified date. ¶2. (C) While not directly criticizing the HRR, Mamadguliyev said that some NGOs pursue "political agendas,8 as evidenced by the fact that some had characterized jailed former Ministers Farhad Aliyev and Ali Insanov and their colleagues as political prisoners. Mamadguliyev said that the two were corrupt; how else could one explain all the money and luxury goods found on their properties? He stated that &corrupt people cannot be political prisoners8 and noted that the USG is a strong supporter of the fight against corruption. Mamadguliyev's statements are reflective of the shift within the GOAJ to characterize the imprisonment of the ministers more as a fight against corruption rather than against coup plotters, the original charges against the two and their jailed colleagues). DCM responded that the USG was looking to the GOAJ to provide for rule of law and due process for all detainees. He also noted that the Embassy widely sourced its report, taking into account information from NGOs, the media, other observers, and the GOAJ, including from Mamadguliyev's own office. HARNISH