Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU762
2006-05-25 13:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SPEAKS OUT ON ETHNIC AZERI
how-toVZCZCXRO7807 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKB #0762 1451358 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251358Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0404 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000762
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR IR AJ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SPEAKS OUT ON ETHNIC AZERI
DEMONSTRATIONS IN IRAN
REF: BAKU 758
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik per 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000762
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR IR AJ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SPEAKS OUT ON ETHNIC AZERI
DEMONSTRATIONS IN IRAN
REF: BAKU 758
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik per 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) The ongoing demonstrations by ethnic Azeris in Iran
and reports of more police violence, deaths, and arrests
continue to generate headlines and intense interest in
Azerbaijan (ref a). Iranian Ambassador Afshar Suleymani (an
ethnic Azeri himself) held a press conference on May 24 in
which he acknowledged the outrage by Iranian Azeris and
criticized the newspaper that had published the offensive
cartoon, but suggested that &external forces8 were taking
advantage of the situation to provoke unrest and weaken Iran.
He defended the use of force by the police, but denied local
press reports that police had fired on the protesters and
that some of them had been killed. (Note: The Azerbaijani
press has carried reports of more violence today.) Suleymani
accused the United States of provoking the demonstrations and
organizing a local demonstration in front of the Iranian
embassy in Baku, in hich the Iranian flag was burned.
(Police have dspersed small demonstrations in front of the
Iraian Embassy each of the last two days and, according to
our human rights contacts, have detained a few of the
protesters.)
2. (C) Comment: Suleymani is a colorful, active figure in
Baku. Fluent in Azeri, he gives regular interviews and has
had good relations with the local press in the past. Some
months ago, however, Suleymani provoked a diplomatic flap and
a very public torrent of criticism when he accused the
Government of Azerbaijan of supporting the reunification of
&northern8 and &southern8 Azerbaijan. (&In your
dreams!8 was the phrase he used to dismiss the possibility
of reunification.) His strongly worded criticism of the
Government of Azerbaijan also provoked a rare public rebuke
of Iran from Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry (ref b). The
Government of Azerbaijan undoubtedly is watching Suleymani's
response to the current demonstrations very carefully.
HYLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PINR IR AJ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SPEAKS OUT ON ETHNIC AZERI
DEMONSTRATIONS IN IRAN
REF: BAKU 758
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik per 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) The ongoing demonstrations by ethnic Azeris in Iran
and reports of more police violence, deaths, and arrests
continue to generate headlines and intense interest in
Azerbaijan (ref a). Iranian Ambassador Afshar Suleymani (an
ethnic Azeri himself) held a press conference on May 24 in
which he acknowledged the outrage by Iranian Azeris and
criticized the newspaper that had published the offensive
cartoon, but suggested that &external forces8 were taking
advantage of the situation to provoke unrest and weaken Iran.
He defended the use of force by the police, but denied local
press reports that police had fired on the protesters and
that some of them had been killed. (Note: The Azerbaijani
press has carried reports of more violence today.) Suleymani
accused the United States of provoking the demonstrations and
organizing a local demonstration in front of the Iranian
embassy in Baku, in hich the Iranian flag was burned.
(Police have dspersed small demonstrations in front of the
Iraian Embassy each of the last two days and, according to
our human rights contacts, have detained a few of the
protesters.)
2. (C) Comment: Suleymani is a colorful, active figure in
Baku. Fluent in Azeri, he gives regular interviews and has
had good relations with the local press in the past. Some
months ago, however, Suleymani provoked a diplomatic flap and
a very public torrent of criticism when he accused the
Government of Azerbaijan of supporting the reunification of
&northern8 and &southern8 Azerbaijan. (&In your
dreams!8 was the phrase he used to dismiss the possibility
of reunification.) His strongly worded criticism of the
Government of Azerbaijan also provoked a rare public rebuke
of Iran from Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry (ref b). The
Government of Azerbaijan undoubtedly is watching Suleymani's
response to the current demonstrations very carefully.
HYLAND