AMBASSADOR RAISES POL-MIL CONSULTATIONS, HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000102 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, PM, EUR/IO/EX AND OBO - BILL FRANKLIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS PHUM AMGT ABLD AJ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES POL-MIL CONSULTATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND NEC WITH FOREIGN MINISTER MAMMADYAROV REF: BAKU 00094 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov reviewed a range of bilateral issues on January ¶18. The Ambassador and Mammadyarov agreed on the need to make our annual political-military consultations more fruitful, suggesting that the next round could be held in the spring, following the February 12 visit by DOD A/S Rodman and State PM DAS Coulter. She also briefed Mammadyarov on SACEUR's planned January 28-29 visit to Baku, noting that protocol reasons precluded any bilateral meetings on this trip. The Ambassador raised USG concerns about several human rights issues, including the Popular Front Party's inability to access its property and equipment (subsequently resolved, see reftel),the detention of Bakhtiyar Hajiev and recent blocking of two Azerbaijani websites, and the Demember 24 attack on Azadliq journalist Nijat Huseynov. Mammadyarov ackowledged USG concerns and attributed some of the events to "bureacratic stupidity," characterizing Hajiev's detention as a "mistake." The Ambassador pressed Mammadyarov for the GOAJ to fulfill its previous commitment to grant the USG property for a new Embassy compound at the Genetics Institute, an issue Mammadyarov characterized as "very tough" and "very sensitive." The Ambassador also sought Mammaydarov's help in reducing the burdens posed by the MFA's insistence on diplomatic notes for many items of routine business. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During a January 18 meeting, the Ambassador and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov reviewed a range of bilateral issues. Their discussion on the upcoming February 7 Economic Partnership Commission (EPC),and Mammadyarov's request for a formal Memorandum of Understanding on energy issue is reported septel. Political-Military Consultations -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador and Mammadyarov discussed plans for the annual bilateral political-military consultations. Mammadyarov said he would talk with Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov concerning the timing of Azimov's proposed February 22-23 consulations in Washington (a proposal Azimov made to then-Charge during a January 10 meeting, septel). The Ambassador and Mammadyarov agreed that it may be better to hold these consultations in the spring, in Baku. The Ambassador noted that given the joint desire to make the annual political-military consultations more fruitful, DoD A/S Peter Rodman and DoS DAS Coulter's February 12-13 visit offered an opportunity to discuss the modalities of the political-military consultations. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador told Mammadyarov that General Bantz Craddock, Commander of EUCOM and SACEUR, will come to Baku January 28-29. The Ambassador explained that Craddock will be in Baku just for an overnight, in his SACEUR capacity. Craddock will not be conducting official meetings in Baku for protocol reasons, namely that he must first visit all other NATO member states. The Ambassador thanked Mammadyarov for the GOAJ's hospitality. Concerns on Human Rights Issues -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador raised USG concern about the opposition Popular Front Party's (PFP) continued lack of access to property and equipment that was removed from its former office. Presidential Apparat chief Ramiz Mehdiyev had assured the Ambassador that the PFP would have access, but this has still not occurred. Mammadyarov promised to talk with Mehdiyev about this issue. (COMMENT: Mammadayarov called the Ambassador shortly after the meeting and said the PFP,s property would be itemized and returned to the PFP the following day, and any damage to the property fully compensated by the government, with the cooperation of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. He invited the Embassy to send a representative to witness the return of the equipment. As reported reftel, the GOAJ did return the PFP's property on January 19 and promised to compensate the party for any damaged property and equipment. End comment) ¶6. (C) The Ambassador also raised concern about the recent blocking of two Azerbaijani websites and the January 15 arrest of Bakhtiyar Hajiev, whose www.susmayaq.biz website BAKU 00000102 002 OF 002 sought to organize on-line protests of recent price hikes. The Ambassador noted that these actions contradict the GOAJ's freedom of speech commitments. Mammadyarov said Hajiyev was briefly detained, but this occurred because of "bureaucratic stupidity." Mammadyarov commented that Hajiev's detention was "a mistake." Mammadyarov added that while he is not generally predisposed to conspiracy theories, somebody may be using this situation to "give Azerbaijan a black name." ¶7. (C) The Ambassador also expressed USG concern about the December 24 attack on Azadliq journalist Nijat Huseynov, noting that it had occured just two days after A/S Lowenkron's visit. She also inquired about the January 14 arrest of alleged coup plotters. Mammadyarov acknowledged the Ambassador's points regarding the attack on Huseynov, noting that appropriate explanations often are lacking, and said he sometimes does not understand if these events are "intentional" or derive from "stupidity." Mammadyarov said he would check with Minister of National Security Mahmudov about the reported disruption of coup plotters, noting that knew only that the arrestees were allied with the "Seyid group." President Aliyev's Schedule -------------- ¶8. (C) The Ambassador told Mammadyarov that Bechtel has been having difficulties arranging a meeting with President Aliyev. Mammadyarov noted that Aliyev has been busy and reviewed Aliyev's upcoming travel schedule. Aliyev will leave Azerbaijan to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos starting January 24, begin a visit to France on January 29, and be back in Azerbaijan on February 1. Aliyev will be in Tbilisi for a signing ceremony on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad sometime between February 5-7. Mammadyarov said that Aliyev also will travel to Germany, approximately February 14-17. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of Aliyev's availability for the EPC (February 7) and the visit by A/S Rodman and DAS Coulter (February 12),and Mammadyarov agreed. New Embassy Compound -------------- ¶9. (C) The Ambassador raised USG concerns with the lack of progress on efforts to secure property for a New Embassy Compound (NEC),noting that we still await GOAJ signature of the conditional lease with respect to the Genetics Institute site, which was assessed by the USG and meets USG requirements for a new Embassy site. She noted that the Chairman of the State Property Commission in December, citing sensitivities by "academicians" about the USG,s acquiring this property, asked the USG to re-consider one of the other two sites offered by the GOAJ. The Ambassador said that this would not be possible because only the Genetics Institute site meets USG requirements. The Ambassador added that the USG needs to know if the GOAJ will follow through on its offer of this property. Specifically, the USG needs to have a conditional lease signed to pave the way for a Department facilities team to conduct a February inspection. ¶10. (C) Mammadyarov replied that this "was a very tough issue" and "very sensitive for the Academy of Science." The property is important to the Academy of Science because it is located near a special laboratory. The Ambassador underscored that the GOAJ had formally offered this site to the USG and on the basis of this offer, the USG had brought a team to Baku to evaluate it. She emphasized the importance of the GOAJ following through on its commitment to the USG. Request on Diplomatic Notes -------------- ¶11. (C) The Ambassador told Mammadyarov that a new GOAJ requirement that all diplomatic notes be submitted in Azerbaijani poses a significant burden on the diplomatic community. While the language requirement is understandable, the problem is that diplomatic notes are often required for all routine meetings and business, well beyond what is required in other diplomatic posts. The Ambassador noted that the volume of required diplomatic notes is high; there were 1,159 diplomatic notes sent to the GOAJ in 2006. Mammadyarov pledged to consider this issue. DERSE