DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO AZERBAIJAN'S FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000108 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PINS PK PREL AJ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO AZERBAIJAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON JANUARY 26 INFORMAL NATO FOREIGN MINISTERIAL REF: SECSTATE 04834 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on January 18. The Ambassador said that the January 26 NATO Informal Foreign Ministerial will focus on a more comprehensive approach to Afghanistan, including new USG commitments, and emphasized that the US encourages friends and allies to increase their commitments in Afghanistan. The Ambassador suggested that Azerbaijan could consider contributing counternarcotics or police training efforts in Afghanistan. ¶2. (C) Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan's Ambassador to NATO will attend the January 26 Ministerial. Mammadyarov noted that the Ministry of Defense is working on the modalities of deploying an additional contingent of troops to Afghanistan. (Note: President Aliyev during his November 8 visit to NATO headquarters pledged to double the number of Azerbaijani soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. There are currently 20-22 Azerbaijani peacekeepers deployed near Kabul.) Mammadyarov said he is more optimistic on the prospects for stability and territorial control in Iraq because Iraq has more money than Afghanistan. Mammadyarov also noted that he will be traveling to Afghanistan in May. DERSE