TURKEY: DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001891

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL/AE WENDY SILVERMAN, EUR/CARC LANE BAHL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM OSCE PHUM AJ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN

REF: A. SECSTATE 99391


B. ANKARA 1598

Classified By: Acting Polcouns Kelly Degnan, reasons 1.4, b, d


1. (C) We delivered reftel A points to MFA South Caucasus
Desk Officer Yavuz Kul July 20. Kul expressed the GOT's
appreciation for the careful approach adopted by the United
States towards Azerbaijan, and pledged to convey our points
to his principals and to the Turkish Embassy in Baku.


2. (C) Kul said Turkey is under no illusions about
democratic conditions in Azerbaijan, but is taking a measured
approach. Turkey does not want to agitate the current
government and has, therefore, not aligned itself with EU
declarations. "Our relations are different," he asserted.
The "Friends of Azerbaijan" demarche, he said, struck the
right "let's help" tone. Turkey also recognizes the
preliminary measures taken by the GOAJ to address media
freedom concerns, and wants to further encourage them.
Turkey's focus, he said, is on training presidential staff
and other key government officials. He agrees that the EU is
well placed to carry out further training through the
European Neighborhood Policy, and that the Commission should,
therefore, open a full mission in Baku. Turkey could be a
valuable partner for the EU, given its traditional closeness
to Azerbaijan.


3. (C) Kul told us Turkey privately has told the GOAJ that
the current situation can't last forever. Turkey is
stressing that -- despite flaws in the recent parliamentary
elections -- Armenia has taken a big step forward in its
democratic development. The democratic deficit Azerbaijan
faces vis a vis Armenia will hinder its ability to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh (N-K) issue successfully. MFA Director
General for Africa, Asia and Pacific Bilateral Affairs Suha
Umar expressed these same concerns to DAS Bryza during their
June 14 meeting (ref B).


4. (C) Kul, who has served in Georgia, believes that
President Aliyev is constrained from making significant
openings on media freedom and democracy. High economic
growth is benefiting only the elite, to the growing
frustration of many citizens. With N-K negotiations
deadlocked, and presidential elections in 2008, even limited
democratization will create new centers of power opposed to
the government. While he believes that a genuine opposition
will, eventually, take root, for now, there is none that
Turkey has confidence in. In Azerbaijan's clannish political
scene, Turkey wishes to avoid misunderstandings and not
appear to be warming to government opponents. In this
regard, Turkish officials have not applied for access to
observe the trial of former Economic Development Minister
Aliyev and his brother.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON