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