AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT STAND WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001337

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER TU IZ AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT STAND WITH
TURKEY AGAINST THE PKK


Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Joan Polaschik for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).


1. (C) Summary: In the run-up to Turkish President Abdullah
Gul's November 6-8 visit to Azerbaijan, GOAJ officials, MPs,
opposition party members, and civil society activists voiced
support for Turkey in its struggle against the PKK. A
November 5 conference in Baku, which included participants
from across the political spectrum, called on the Azerbaijan
Parliament to recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization.
President Aliyev's public statements during Gul's visit and
our private conversations with MFA officials suggest the GOAJ
support for Turkey will be limited to political gestures,
including a possible Parliamentary decision to label the PKK
a terrorist organization. End Summary.

Conference Lobbies GOAJto Label PKK as Terrorist Group
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2. (C) On November 5, Leyla Yunus (Director of the
Insttute of Peace and Democracy) organized a conferenc on
Azerbaijani-Turkish relations and Azerbaijan' support to
Turkey in its struggle against the PK. According to Yunus
and local press, approximately 150 participants attended.
Attendees represented the political spectrum, including
pro-government and pro-opposition groups. The conference
concluded with a document calling on the Parliament to
recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization.


3. (C) Commenting on the conference, Yunus told us that the
theme of "solidarity with Turkey" binds opposition and
government forces. During the conference, young civil
society representatives were the most frustrated with what
they believed to be the GOAJ's insubstantial support for
Ankara against the PKK. Yunus also observed that Azerbaijani
society is united around the idea of maintaining close
relations with Turkey and the idea of Azerbaijan supporting
Turkey in its fight against the PKK.


4. (C) Opposition MP Nasib Nasibli gave a speech on
Azerbaijani-Turkish during the conference and privately told
us there is consensus among opposition and government-leaning
politicians that Turkey is a strategic ally for Azerbaijan.
Nasibli judged that the Parliament may declare the PKK a
terrorist organization, although he had no information about
a possible timeline.

GOAJ Offers Public Support
--------------


5. (C) During a November 6 press conference with Turkish
President Abdullah Gul, President Aliyev stated that
Azerbaijan supports Turkey's steps against the PKK. On the
same day, Parliamentary Speaker Oqtay Asadov said the
Parliament will issue a statement condemning the PKK. Apart
from these public gestures, it is unclear if the GOAJ is
willing to offer more tangible support or take the step of
formally declaring the PKK as a terrorist organization.


6. (C) MFA First Territorial Department Director Rahman
Mustafayev told Pol/Econ Chief that Azerbaijan would offer
"political support" to Turkey against the PKK. Mustafayev
dismissed recent press reports which speculated that
Azerbaijani military units in Naxchivan might offer military
support to Turkey against the PKK. Mustafayev emphasized
that the GOAJ position was based on Azerbaijan's strong
relations with Turkey and the broader importance of combating
terrorism.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) We believe the GOAJ's support for Turkey on the PKK
issue will be contained to public statements and other
political gestures. This issue demonstrates how strongly the
chord of Turkish solidarity resonates within Azerbaijani
society and across the government-opposition divide. Turkey
and Azerbaijan have strong, close relations -- including in
the military sphere -- and have recently intensified their
efforts to promote pan-Turkic unity on a range of issues.


8. (C) A subtheme of Azerbaijani solidarity with Turkey
against the PKK is the periodic accusation that unspecified
GOAJ elements may secretly support Kurdish business networks
or even the PKK. Analysts who are critical of the government
most often make this accusation. While some powerful

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Azerbaijanis are Kurdish or have links to Kurdish business
networks, we believe the periodic pro-Kurdish allegations are
just one tool that various Azerbaijani political factions
employ in their regular efforts to smear rivals in the press.
DERSE