DEPUTY FM ON TURKMENISTAN, IRAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001211

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
TAGS: PREL ENRG PHUM KDEM KNNC IR AJ
SUBJECT: DEPUTY FM ON TURKMENISTAN, IRAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS

REF: (A) ASHGABAT 1066 (B) BAKU 238

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER REASONS 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 2 meeting with the Ambassador,
Deputy Foreign Minister (responsible for bilateral relations)
Khalaf Khalafov provided a readout on recent talks between
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, urging the U.S. to do more to
persuade the Government of Turkmenistan why the trans-Caspian
pipeline is in its interest, and to engage the GOTX at a more
senior level. Khalafov outlined the state of Azeri-Turkmen
bilateral relations, including delimitation, noting that
there were many issues yet to be resolved and that the two
sides remained engaged and in constant dialogue. Turning to
Iran, Khalafov said that the GOAJ recognizes and agrees with
the concerns of the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear program.
When Khalafov confirmed that President Aliyev plans to attend
the five-party Caspian delimitation talks in Tehran, the
Ambassador noted that now was not a good time to support
Iran's international aspirations. The Ambassador also raised
U.S. concerns regarding Azerbaijan's deteriorating media and
human rights situations, highlighting recent human rights
abuses in Nakhchivan (septel). END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Ambassador Derse met with Deputy Foreign Minister
Khalaf Khalafov October 2 to discuss recent meetings between
the Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) and the Government of
Turkmenistan (GOTX),Iran and the deteriorating media freedom
environment. Khalafov stressed to the Ambassador the
importance of U.S.-Azerbaijan relations and emphasized that
continued dialogue and communication between the two
countries would benefit the overall relationship.

GOAJ MESSAGE TO U.S. ON TURKMENISTAN
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3. (C) Khalafov told the Ambassador that the U.S. needed to
do more to convince the GOTX that a trans-Caspian pipeline
was in its interest. He added that the U.S. needed to engage
with the GOTX at a more senior level. He said that it was
not enough for the U.S. to say that it supports a
trans-Caspian pipeline project without taking a more active
role in talking to the GOTX directly in Ashgabat regarding
trans-Caspian projects. He said that the U.S. needed to
"intensify its engagement" with Turkmenistan in order for the
GOTX "to understand" the benefits a trans-Caspian pipeline
would bring to Turkmenistan, adding that implementation of a
project will not prejudice other GOTX positions regarding the
Caspian.

AZERI-TURKMEN BILATERAL RELATIONS: NEXT STEPS
--------------


4. (C) Khalafov briefed the Ambassador on recent meetings in
Baku with GOTX representatives, noting that while there were
many issues yet to be resolved, the two sides remained
engaged and in constant dialogue. Khalafov told the
Ambassador that "external influence" from Russia was
hindering Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan's efforts to improve
their relationship and influencing Turkmenistan's thinking on
the trans-Caspian pipeline. He said that next steps in the
AJ-TX bilateral discussions included resolving the
outstanding debt issue between the two governments, launching
the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Bilateral Commission by the end
of 2007, and re-opening Turkmenistan's embassy in Baku.
Khalafov appeared confident that the GOAJ would use all means
to resolve any outstanding issues and build on its growing
positive relations with the GOTX.

AZERI-TURKMEN DELIMITATION TALKS
--------------


5. (C) Regarding the GOAJ-GOTX discussions on delimitation,
Khalafov recognized that both sides were still far apart.
Khalafov declined to call discussions at "an impasse," adding
that the GOAJ wanted to maintain the momentum and keep all
avenues open for discussion. He said that the two
governments had decided to prepare separate specific
proposals on delimitation in order to begin a serious
dialogue, to narrow differences and to resolving the
long-standing issues. Khalafov said that the GOAJ hoped to
use an internationally accepted map of the Caspian to assist
the difficult discussions. Khalafov emphasized that the GOAJ
would not accept any proposals from the GOTX that did not
"take into account Azerbaijan's particular geographic

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factors, including the Absheron Peninsula." The Turkmen, he
said, do not want to take the Absheron Peninsula into account
in an eventual solution, a position Azerbaijan rejects.


6. (C) Khalafov reiterated that the GOAJ will work to
maintain an open dialogue with the GOTX on Caspian and
regional issues, noting that resolving the outstanding issues
would be positive for long-term regional stability. He noted
that there would likely be a bilateral meeting between
President Aliyev and Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov at the
upcoming Caspian Sea delimitation conference in Tehran, which
could further discussions on Caspian and regional issues.
Khalafov hoped that the two governments would meet again by
the end of the year in Ashgabat to continue discussions.

AZERBAIJAN AND IRAN
--------------


7. (C) Noting that President Aliyev planned to travel to Iran
for the Caspian Sea conference, the Ambassador told Khalafov
that now was not a good time to support President Ahmadinejad
and emphasized the importance of isolating Iran and
maintaining a strong unified international community approach
to Iran. Khalafov said that the GOAJ recognizes and agrees
with the concerns of the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear
weapons program. He said that the Iran should not have a
nuclear program, while stating that Iran had the right to a
peaceful program. Khalafov agreed that now was not the right
time to give the Iranian President any public support and
said that Azerbaijan had been the last country to accept
Iran's invitation to the Caspian Sea conference (see septel).


8. (C) Khalafov agreed that the international community
needed to stand united against Iran in order to deliver a
strong message. He said that certain senior figures in the
government did not support Iran's nuclear program, adding
that the current internal political process could convince
the government to change course. He emphasized that if the
international community remains united, Iran will take notice
and that all means should be used regarding Iran to find a
peaceful resolution.

DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOMS
--------------


9. (C) The Ambassador raised the deteriorating media and
human rights situation, including the recent beating of an
opposition journalist in Nakhchivan by Ministry of National
Security officers (septel). The Ambassador told Khalafov
media freedoms in Azerbaijan has deteriorated seriously and
that she would soon propose to FM Mammadyarov steps to
intensify engagement on political and economic reform.
Khalafov agreed to pass the message to FM Mammadyarov.
Khalafov responded that Azerbaijan's democratic process is
constantly developing and that some developments should not
be characterized "as a step backwards." He expressed
confidence that the situation in Azerbaijan would improve,
noting that "future U.S.-Azerbaijan positions on democracy
would be close."

COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) Shortly after the death of Turkmenbashi last year,
Khalafov summoned the Ambassador to the MFA to express the
GOAJ's wish to launch intensified dialogue with the U.S. with
respect to taking advantage of the new opportunity to engage
Turkmenistan, and specifically on Caspian delimitation issues
(REF B). The GOAJ remains intensely interested in increased
USG cooperation. Noting Ashgabat's request for U.S.
assistance with the negotiations on delimitation, we ask that
Washington advise how we might be able to be of greater
assistance in both Baku and Ashgabat, given a solution would
support U.S. interests in bringing Caspian gas west. We
again urge that a senior USG official visit Baku to consult
with the GOAJ specifically on Turkmenistan.
DERSE