Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU641
2006-04-27 02:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
IRANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS BAKU
how-toVZCZCXRO6070 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKB #0641 1170223 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 270223Z APR 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0238 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000641
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ECON EPET AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS BAKU
Classified By: ADCM Joan Polaschik, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000641
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ECON EPET AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS BAKU
Classified By: ADCM Joan Polaschik, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Najjar visited
Azerbaijan April 19-20 and met with President Ilham Aliyev,
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, Chairman of the Parliament
Oktay Asadov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov The
local press reported that Najjar's meeting with President
Aliyev focused on the development of relations between the
two states in the political, economic, energy and other
areas. The local press noted that Iranian President
Ahmadinejad will follow Najjar to Baku on May 3, when
Ahmadinejad will attend the May 3-5 Heads of State meeting of
the Economic Cooperation Organization. The media has been
full of wild speculation about linkages between the two
Iranian officials' visits to Baku and Azerbaijani President
Aliyev's visit to Washington. In some press reports, Najjar
and Ahmadinejad are using their visits to urge Azerbaijan not
to join the U.S.-led anti-Iran coalition; according to other
press reports, Najjar asked Aliyev to serve as intermediary
between the U.S. and Iran.
2. (C) According to the Azerbaijani translation of a press
interview, Najjar said that because Azerbaijan is Iran's
"closest neighbor and brother.... Ilham Aliyev could persuade
the United States to understand Iran's position." Najjar
told the press that Iran had not made this request of
Azerbaijan but he believes that Aliyev's visit to Washington
will reduce tensions. Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor
Novruz Mammadov told the Charge that Najjar's comments in the
interview were poorly interpreted and that he did not call on
Azerbaijan to play a mediating role with the United States.
HYLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ECON EPET AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS BAKU
Classified By: ADCM Joan Polaschik, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Najjar visited
Azerbaijan April 19-20 and met with President Ilham Aliyev,
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, Chairman of the Parliament
Oktay Asadov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov The
local press reported that Najjar's meeting with President
Aliyev focused on the development of relations between the
two states in the political, economic, energy and other
areas. The local press noted that Iranian President
Ahmadinejad will follow Najjar to Baku on May 3, when
Ahmadinejad will attend the May 3-5 Heads of State meeting of
the Economic Cooperation Organization. The media has been
full of wild speculation about linkages between the two
Iranian officials' visits to Baku and Azerbaijani President
Aliyev's visit to Washington. In some press reports, Najjar
and Ahmadinejad are using their visits to urge Azerbaijan not
to join the U.S.-led anti-Iran coalition; according to other
press reports, Najjar asked Aliyev to serve as intermediary
between the U.S. and Iran.
2. (C) According to the Azerbaijani translation of a press
interview, Najjar said that because Azerbaijan is Iran's
"closest neighbor and brother.... Ilham Aliyev could persuade
the United States to understand Iran's position." Najjar
told the press that Iran had not made this request of
Azerbaijan but he believes that Aliyev's visit to Washington
will reduce tensions. Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor
Novruz Mammadov told the Charge that Najjar's comments in the
interview were poorly interpreted and that he did not call on
Azerbaijan to play a mediating role with the United States.
HYLAND