AZERBAIJAN'S NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S

UNCLAS BAKU 001264 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/IWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KWMN KDEM KPAO AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN'S NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE REF: STATE 126072 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU) - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (U) We are pleased to nominate Fatima Aghamirzayeva to be considered for the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage (ref). In Azerbaijan, very few women are active in business or politics; however, Ms. Aghamirzayeva has been a trailblazer in both areas. As a young widow with four children to support, Ms. Aghamirzayeva opened her own business, the World of Carpets Association, in 1988, becoming one of Azerbaijan's first female entrepreneurs. Through her commitment to promote political and economic equality for women and by the daily example she sets, Ms. Aghamirzayeva demonstrates exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and advancement. ¶2. (U) The World of Carpets Association is based in Guba, Azerbaijan, and has grown to include three branches. Ms. Aghamirzayeva employs about 65 women in the company's Guba center, who teach other women the tradecraft of carpet-making, giving them the skillset to provide for their families for life. Between 200 and 300 women work in the three branches, which are located in small villages with some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Many of these women are ethnic Lezgin, one of Azerbaijan's larger minority groups. In addition to employing these women, who would otherwise have very slim chances finding work, the World of Carpets Association promotes regional agricultural development by using only natural dyes from plants grown by local farmers. ¶3. (SBU) Ms. Aghamirzayeva also serves as the chair of the Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party's (ADRP's) regional branch which includes the northern cities of Guba, Gusar, and Kachmaz. Created in 2005, the ADRP is a small political party comprised of "businessmen and entrepreneurs," with a platform focused on promoting democratic reforms and creating a favorable climate for small and medium businesses. Although most Azerbaijani women are not politically active and do not join political parties, Ms. Aghamirzayeva quickly rose through the ranks to become a leader in ADRP, and ran for Parliament in 2005. She believes that a woman "must lack fear" in order to be politically active in Azerbaijan, but chooses to persist, asking "If not me, then who would raise these issues?" ¶4. (U) Fatima Aghamirzayeva is the owner and president of the World of Carpets Association and a regional chair of the Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party. Ms. Aghamirzayeva was born on January 10, 1953 in Guba, Azerbaijan. Her passport number is 0350275. Ms. Aghamirzayeva can be reached by telephone at 994-169-5-17-75 (office),or 994-50-313-0090 (mobile); by mail at Gabala street 26A, Guba, Azerbaijan, A4000; or by e-mail at worldofcarpet@mail.ru. ¶5. (U) The Embassy's point of contact for women's issues is Political Officer Rebecca Naslund, who can be reached by telephone at 994-12-498-0335, extensin 4210, or by e-mail at NaslundRJ@state.gov. DRSE