WAC PRESIDENT ON IRAN AND THE AHMADINEJAD VISIT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001053

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR AJ
SUBJECT: WAC PRESIDENT ON IRAN AND THE AHMADINEJAD VISIT TO
BAKU

REF: A. BAKU 608

B. BAKU 880

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Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Speaking with Embassy Iran Watcher on
August 22, World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC) President
Ghulamriza Sabri-Tabrizi said that Iranian President
Ahmadinejad's August 21-22 visit to Baku was driven by
domestic political considerations and a desire to ensure that
Azerbaijan prevents U.S. forces from being based there.
Tabrizi also said the Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) had
given quiet approval for the WAC and others to protest
Ahmadinejad's visit. Tabrizi added that Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev had congratulated him on his recent
election and indicated that he (Aliyev) was interested in
"working with the U.S. on Iran." Tabrizi said that his
overwhelming victory over his two closest contenders for
president symbolized the end of the Azerbaijani Presidential
Apparat's influence over WAC. Tabrizi, who continued to be
upbeat about cooperation with other Azeri diaspora groups,
said that he would move the headquarters of the WAC to
London, in part to increase access to the Iranian diaspora.
End Summary.

Tabrizi on the Ahmadinejad Visit
--------------


2. (C) World Azerbaijanis Congress President Ghulamriza
Sabri-Tabrizi told Iran Watcher on August 22 that the purpose
of Iranian President Ahmadinejad's insistence on his August
21-22 visit to Baku was two-fold, driven by Iranian domestic
political considerations and a desire to ensure that
Azerbaijan continued to prevent U.S. forces from being based
there. Saying that Ahmadinejad was losing support inside
Iran due to his failure to deliver on campaign promises to
improve Iran's economy, Tabrizi said that Ahmadinejad's
foreign visits were part of an effort to quell internal
discontent by "appearing to be doing something." Tabrizi
also said that the regime in Tehran is paranoid about U.S.
encirclement, desperate to ensure that neighboring countries
will not allow U.S. forces to be based there.


3. (C) Tabrizi said that the Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ)
had privately granted permission for the WAC and SANAM to
demonstrate in front of the Iranian Embassy August 22, to
protest Ahmadinejad's visit. (Small groups, including
Azerbaijani ANIP opposition party, regularly protest in front
of the Iranian Embassy.) Tabrizi added that he had been
assured that all "detained" protesters would be released
shortly after their "arrest."

Insights Into President Aliyev's Thinking on Iran
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4. (C) Tabrizi noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
had recently called him to congratulate him on his recent
election. According to Tabrizi, Aliyev expressed his
happiness that such a "trusted friend" of his father's had
been elected to the post. However, Aliyev reportedly also
pointed out that while the WAC had his firm support, it was
essential that this fact "remain private" so as "not to be
seen as meddling with Iran's internal affairs." According to
Tabrizi, Aliyev said he was interested in "working with the
U.S. on Iran."


5. (C) Tabrizi said that his overwhelming victory over his
two closest contenders for president - former WAC President
Javad Derakhti and Eldar Qaradagli, by a vote of 12-to-4,
symbolized the end of the Azerbaijani Presidential Apparat's
influence (and that of Presidential Advisors Ramiz Mehdiyev
and Ali Hasanov) over the organization. Describing Mehdiyev
and Hasanov as "Pro-Russians with no interest in the plight
of South Azerbaijanis," Tabrizi said that Derakhti and
Qaradagli's lack of support from the WAC membership was a
clear repudiation of Mehdiyev and Hasanov's influence.
Tabrizi commented that Aliyev is "walled in by Mehdiyev."
Tabrizi, who said that he maintains regular contact with
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, also commented that he had "high
hopes for Ms. Aliyeva and that she might consider him
(Tabrizi) to be her foreign policy advisor."

Promising Signs Vis-a-Vis Other Azeri Diaspora Groups?
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Tabrizi said that he was optimistic that cooperation

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with other Azeri diaspora groups would be forthcoming,
indicating that among others, South Azerbaijan National
Awakening Movement (SANAM) President Mahmud Chohragani had
contacted him to offer congratulations and discuss possible
areas of cooperation. According to Tabrizi, the Demokratik
Dunya Azerbaijan Kongresi (DDAK),headed by Ahmad Obali, and
the National Parliament of South Azerbaijanis (a Norway-based
Azeri diaspora group headed by "Boyuk Bey") had also
contacted Tabrizi to express their willingness to "join the
WAC." (Note: DDAK is a North America-based faction of the
WAC that reportedly broke off from the WAC a number of years
ago; DDAK head Obali also runs Chicago-based GunAz
Television.)


7. (C) Tabrizi plans to move the WAC's headquarters from
Malmo, Sweden (home of former president Derakhti) to London,
where Tabrizi lives. Tabrizi cited London's large Iranian
diaspora community (with outreach opportunities to other
Iranian diaspora groups) and safety as contributing factors
for the move.

U.S. Outreach
--------------


8. (C) Tabrizi, who reiterated his request for U.S.
financial assistance to reinvigorate the WAC's activities (to
be reported septel) said that he also was interested in
working with the U.S. on Iran. Tabrizi plans to travel to
Washington this fall as part of his overall outreach plans,
and said that he is interested in meeting with State
Department officials who deal with Iranian affairs. Tabrizi
also hinted that he had again been contacted by the
"Israelis, to include U.S. Jewish groups." (Note: U.S.
Jewish groups maintain regular contact with the GOAJ and
Azeri diaspora groups.)
DERSE