Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU1331
2007-11-06 11:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

FM MAMMADYAROV REVIEWS CASPIAN DELIMITATION, IRAN

Tags:  PBTS PREL ENRG MARR IR TX AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 061120Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4178
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHDIR/IRAN RPO DUBAI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001331 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2017
TAGS: PBTS PREL ENRG MARR IR TX AJ
SUBJECT: FM MAMMADYAROV REVIEWS CASPIAN DELIMITATION, IRAN
SANCTIONS, 2+2 TALKS AND UNGA

REF: A. STATE 146521


B. STATE 145641

C. STATE 148506

BAKU 00001331 001.2 OF 003


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001331

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2017
TAGS: PBTS PREL ENRG MARR IR TX AJ
SUBJECT: FM MAMMADYAROV REVIEWS CASPIAN DELIMITATION, IRAN
SANCTIONS, 2+2 TALKS AND UNGA

REF: A. STATE 146521


B. STATE 145641

C. STATE 148506

BAKU 00001331 001.2 OF 003


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


1. (C) Summary: During a November 2 meeting, Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said that he was optimistic that
a delimitation deal with Turkmenistan was possible.
Mammadyarov suggested that the U.S. assist Azerbaijan by
helping to draft a joint declaration outlining the median
line as the concept for delimitation and then delivering it
to Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov directly. Mammadyarov
also strongly urged that the U.S. do all it could to ensure
that Berdimuhamedov received a clear message during his EU
meetings in Brussels, something Mammadyarov suggested was
essential to any possible deal moving forward. The
Ambassador also reviewed with Mammadyarov on new U.S.
sanctions on Iran, recent 2 2 talks with Russia, and the U.S.
position on key UNGA votes. End Summary.

Mammadyarov on Caspian Delimitation
--------------


2. (C) Meeting with the Ambassador on November 2,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister (FM) Mammadyarov seemed upbeat
about prospects for a delimitation deal with Turkmenistan,
saying that Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov's public
statements at the Caspian Summit in Tehran suggested that
Turkmenistan supported a median line agreement and that
Turkmenistan's position concerning any pipeline agreement was
that it should be left up to the relevant states to decide
such a matter. Saying that the Turkmen are a very suspicious
people, Mammadyarov said that if Berdimuhamedov supports a
median division, then Azerbaijan should pursue a joint
Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan declaration based on the median line.
Adding that clarifications should be decided by experts,
Mammadyarov said that if both sides were conceptually
amenable to a median line agreement as the basis for a
maritime border in principle, experts could work out the

details of defining the specifics of the median line to
resolve the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan dispute, there should be
no problem pursuing a new trans-Caspian interconnector.
Mammadyarov went on to say that if Berdimuhamedov is
interested in an interconnector, he should recognize that we
have a joint border, where exactly is for the experts to
decide. If we have a border, no one else can dispute this,
Mammadyarov emphasized.


3. (C) Mammadyarov said that he had discussed this proposal
with Turkmenistan's Deputy Foreign Minister (DFM) on the
fringe of the Caspian Summit in Tehran, who he reportedly
told that if both sides can agree on their delimitation, then
the whole Caspian is a done deal because four states would
have agreed, leaving only Iran out. According to
Mammadyarov, the Turkmen DFM said that he would have to
deliver Mammadyarov's proposal "to the top." Mammadyarov
commented that he is worried about Turkmen Foreign Minister
Meredov because "he is from the past." Mammadyarov said that
if Azerbaijan were to deliver a draft proposal, U.S. support
would help the Turkmen to accept. Mammadyarov suggested that
U.S. lawyers draft a simple, two-sentence declaration
outlining the median line as the agreed concept for
delimitation and saying that experts will explore the details
in the meantime, suggesting that such a proposal would "open
Turkmen minds." Mammadyarov suggested that the U.S. take the
letter to the Turkmen "since they trust you." Returning to
Berdimuhamedov's public statement, Mammadyarov said "I don't
think he's playing."


4. (C) Saying that he thought SCA PDAS Mann was taking a
more cautious approach to the Turkmen, Mammadyarov said "I
think now is the time to press ahead on the trans-Caspian
pipeline because he is stronger at home." According to
Mammadyarov, if Berdimuhamedov "gets a clear message from
Brussels, this is a good thing." Suggesting that the
Europeans were "very shaky and we need a clear message,"
Mammadyarov said that he had suggested to EUR DAS Bryza that
he use the November 5-7 Berdimuhamedov visit to Brussels to
push for greater engagement. According to Mammadyarov,
Berdimuhamedov wants "to be sure Europe won't give up on him
otherwise Russia will come in - this is critical for his
survival," adding that Berdimuhamedov "will definitely come
to a conceptual agreement with us if he gets a clear message
in Brussels." Mammadyarov believes that this would make
sense for Turkmenistan from a diversification point of view

BAKU 00001331 002.2 OF 003


because the Turkmen could use their offshore fields for the
trans-Caspian pipeline, their fields near the Kazakh border
for Russian and Chinese exports, and continue to supply the
Iranians with approximately 3 million cubic meters, according
to "our sources," Mammadyarov said. Mammadyarov noted that
the Iranians are trying to convince the Turkmen not to
proceed with a trans-Caspian pipeline and instead expand
exports through Iran and on to Azerbaijan or Europe via the
Nabucco pipeline.


5. (C) Mammadyarov said that unresolved debt issues continue
to limit rapprochement with Turkmenistan, although Presidents
Aliyev and Berdimuhamedov had agreed in St. Petersburg to
discuss the issue based on documentation. Mammadyarov said
that Azerbaijan would add an additional three percentage
points to what is owed Turkmenistan these past ten years, not
an inflated figure "based on bribes." Noting that the
Turkmen had recently sent a team to Baku to discuss the
issue, Mammadyarov said that the Turkmen "held the same
position" and that DFM Khalafov would travel November 20 to
Ashgabat. Separately, Mammadyarov said that the Turkmen
Embassy in Baku would reopen and that the delay in launching
the bilateral joint commission was another "annoying" issue
for him.

Mammadyarov on Iran
--------------


6. (C) After outlining the State and Treasury Departments'
recent designation of Iranian entities and individuals, and
the Financial Action Task Force's strong message that states
be aware of the risks of doing business with Iran, the
Ambassador notified Mammadyarov that visiting EUR A/S Fried
would be discussing the status of anti-money laundering (AML)
and counter-terrorist finance (CFT) legislation in
Azerbaijan. To this, Mammadyarov said that he had sent the
Azerbaijani parliament a letter requesting support on this
legislation (Mammadyarov later clarified that his letter was
to support Azerbaijan joining a UN AML/CFT Convention).
Asked by the Ambassador if the Foreign Ministry was engaged
on this issue, Mammadyarov said "I just encouraged them." He
also said that "honestly speaking, we have to research the
finances of Melli Bank." Asked by the Ambassador to clarify
a National Bank statement quoted in the press saying it did
not support U.S. sanctions, Mammadyarov responded "don't
compare our press to your press!" and "I am not happy with
the journalism of Azerbaijan."

Mammadyarov on the 2 2 Talks
--------------


7. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's readout of the 2 2
Talks (ref a),Mammadyarov confirmed that the Russians were
surprised by the USG's constructive proposal, based on their
readout with him. He also noted that the Russian First
Deputy FM had briefed him on efforts to explore a joint
regional missile defense architecture. Asking about the U.S.
offer to allow observers at sites, Mammadyarov sought
clarification if this would include all four sites, asking if
A/S Fried would discuss this with President Aliyev. Telling
Mammadyarov that A/S Fried was prepared to discuss the issue
with President Aliyev, the Ambassador also suggested that A/S
Fried could provide additional details related to observers,
adding that the U.S. was taking Russian concerns seriously
and in the context of our proposal on a joint regional
architecture.


8. (C) Mammadyarov said that inclusion of Azerbaijan as part
of a regional security arrangement was "good for us." Any
Qabala specific role is of interest because we are a target -
the "Iranians have warned us." Mammadyarov said that Iran
had asked Azerbaijan if the radar was directed against it,
adding that Azerbaijan had told the Iranians that if Iran is
only pursuing a peaceful nuclear program, then Iran had
nothing to fear. According to Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan had to
be part of the system and "think one hundred years in
advance." Telling the Ambassador that it was his
understanding that at the 2 Plus 2 Talks a broader package
had been discussed, not just missile defense, Mammadyarov
asked if "they had put different eggs in a basket?" To this,
the Ambassador said that the U.S. was not linking the issues,
but discussing a full range of strategic issues that both
nations must work on and that Azerbaijan should be pleased
with this. Mammadyarov responded that "we want to use this
situation (Qabala) for our benefit."


BAKU 00001331 003.2 OF 003


Mammadyarov on UNGA Resolutions
--------------


9. (C) The Ambassador also raised two UNGA resolutions with
Mammadyarov, one dealing with rape and the other the Cuba
Embargo (refs b and c). Informing Mammadyarov that the U.S.
had worked with the OIC to oppose rape as a state policy, the
Ambassador asked Mammadyarov for Azerbaijan's support during
the vote. Mammadyarov replied that he could not believe
anyone would not support this resolution. On the Cuba
Embargo resolution, Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan had been
"with the 184 countries." Noting that the Azerbaijani trade
delegation to Cuba had been postponed, Mammadyarov informed
the Ambassador that Cuba would be opening an embassy in Baku,
adding the Cuban ambassador to Baku would be a "good
ambassador." Saying that it was Azerbaijan's belief that it
was better for countries to be "on the inside rather than on
the outside" in order to promote democracy, Mammadyarov said
that over 1,000 Cubans had been educated in Azerbaijan during
the Soviet period, primarily at the oil academy and
international law department, and that there is a large
Azerbaijan diaspora in Cuba. Mammadyarov also said that
Azerbaijan could not have many embassies in South America
because it had so few fluent Spanish speakers, so Cuba was an
important element along with Mexico and Brazil. Responding
to the Ambassador's question about what interest Cuba would
have in having an embassy in Baku, Mammadyarov said that this
would be the first Cuban embassy in the Caucasus, with Cuba
having over 145 embassies, mainly smaller one to two person
posts.
DERSE