GREECE: DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001528 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/AE WENDY SILVERMAN, EUR/CARC LANE BAHL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM OSCE PHUM AJ GR SUBJECT: GREECE: DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN REF: SECSTATE 99391 Classified By: PolCouns Robin Quinville, reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (C) Visiting Greece Desk Officer, Ilan Goodman, delivered reftel points to MFA South Caucusus Desk Officer Stella Bezirtzoglou. Bezirtzoglou thanked the U.S. for its attention to this issue, noting the GOG concurred it is a growing problem. She questioned why the Aliyev government, which she characterized as "extremely popular," would continue to crack down on media freedoms. Goodman noted that Aliyev and his closest advisors had taken some positive steps recently, but it was still possible for various factions to use the ability to imprison independent and opposition journalists for their own purposes -- one of the reasons the USG advocated the decriminalization of libel in Azerbaijan. Bezirtzoglu agreed, continuing that the GOG had heard from a co-chairman of the Minsk group that there were portions of the GOAJ that Aliyev did not control. Even on Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, Aliyev was sometimes out of the loop, she concluded. ¶2. (C) Bezirtzoglou noted that Greece had raised these issues in Brussels and other European capitals and supported the EU declaration of support for media freedoms and independent journalism. But Azerbaijan continued back-sliding. Bezirtzoglou noted that Greece has encouraged the expansion of democracy and rule of law through its development aid to all of the South Caucus countries. She agreed to recommend that the GOG expand its aid programs in Azerbaijan, perhaps including money for training of judges and a possible conferece on mass media and independent journalism. ¶3. (C) Bezirtzoglou emphasized however, that the GOG needed to tread carefully in pressing the GOAJ on these issues, for two reasons. First, the two countries had recently had a rapproachement following the freeze in relations due to "illegal" flights from Azerbaijan to Northern Cyprus. Second, a "strategic relationship" had developed between them in the energy sector. Pointing to the recent interministerial meetings held in Athens on July 5-6, she noted that Development Minister Sioufas hoped to travel to Baku soon to sign a gas agreement related to Shah Deniz. (NOTE: The Development Ministry has confirmed that minister Sioufas will travel Wednesday, August 1 to Baku. END NOTE) Goodman explained that the U.S. understood the importance of the GOG-GOAJ relationship and the vital role that relationship played in the diversification of European energy supplies. He stressed this was why the Friends of Azerbaijan demarche was so effective and why the U.S. was urging the European Commission to appoint an Head of Mission to Azerbaijan. By adding the EU's voice to the international concern for these issues, it would add to Greece's effectiveness. Bezirtzoglou agreed to convey the message to Brussels and Baku, and will also instruct the Greek Embassy to work with the U.S. in approaching the GOAJ. COUNTRYMAN