SCA PDAS MANN AND FM MAMMADYAROV DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001490 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG TX AJ PHUM SUBJECT: SCA PDAS MANN AND FM MAMMADYAROV DISCUSS AZERBAIJANI-TURKMEN ENERGY RELATIONS Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a November 13 meeting with the Ambassador and PDAS Steven Mann, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov was downbeat on prospects for Turkmenistan moving quickly to send Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan or to resolve the Caspian delimitation issue. Mammadyarov said he was encouraged, however, by Berdimuhamedov's statement at the October Caspian summit because it supported a median line delimitation concept and a trans-Caspian pipeline. On a possible trilateral Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan energy summit, Mammadyarov suggested the ball is in Ashgabat's court, and he asked Mann to convey a proposal for a declaration to the Turkmen. Mammadyarov reacted defensively to the Ambassador raising the recent detention of Azadliq journalist Genimet Zahidov, arguing that the GOAJ could not tolerate a journalist attacking another citizen. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Participants at the meeting included: the Ambassador, PDAS Steven Mann, SCA/CEN Director Pamela Spratlen, and EEB officer J. Laurence Wright II. Energy -------------- ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was downbeat on Turkmenistan moving quickly to send Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan or to resolve the Caspian delimitation issue. Sharing his impressions of Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov, Mammadyarov said that while he is "an interesting guy," he is full of "too much bullshit." Mammadyarov observed that Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov is overly conservative and "will stop" Berdimuhamedov from moving too far in Azerbaijan's direction. Mammadyarov reviewed the GOAJ's suggestion to Ashgabat that they characterize discussions on sending Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan as "development of infrastructure" and avoid mention of "pipelines" in order to shield Ashgabat from Moscow's pressure. Mammadyarov complained that Berdimuhamedov still has not appointed an Ambassador to Azerbaijan. ¶4. (C) Mammadyarov said he was impressed with Berdimuhamedov's statement during the October Caspian summit in Tehran that supported the median line concept and a trans-Caspian pipeline. During the summit, Mammadyarov provided the Turkmen deputy foreign minister with a proposal for a bilateral accord, which would note both sides' 
agreement on the median principle and establish an expert-level group to define the median line. Mammadyarov suggested Ashgabat has not yet responded to this proposal. Mammadyarov reiterated the GOAJ's argument that the U.S. should be more active in encouraging the GOTX to send gas through a trans-Caspian pipeline. Mammadyarov said Ashgabat is looking for "security guarantees," and he doubted that Turkey could fulfill this role. ¶5. (C) Mammadyarov said President Aliyev supports a trilateral Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan energy summit, but blamed Kazakh President Nazarbayev for not pressing Berdimuhamedov to support Nazarbayev's proposal for the summit. Mammadyarov suggested that Turkey take the lead in calling for a trilateral summit, rather than the U.S. Mammadyarov also recommended the summit be held in a European capital to cater to Berdimuhamedov's desire to be showcased in the West. The summit's goals would be to send a clearer signal to energy companies, demonstrate the three states' political commitment to energy cooperation, and signal that Turkmenistan is "looking in a new direction," according to Mammadyarov. In response to Mann's point that a summit should have concrete results, Mammadyarov said it was important to have some momentum because currently "there is no movement at all." Commenting on the idea of a U.S.-Turkmen-Azerbaijan working-level meeting to discuss energy cooperation, Mammadyarov said more senior-level officials would need to be involved because Turkmen experts are not empowered to make decisions. ¶6. (C) As an alternative he suggested that Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazahkstan meet and issue a declaration centering on two points: acceptance of a median line concept as the basis for delimitation, and agreement to have experts meet to work out the details. Mann agreed to share the idea with the Turkmen. ¶7. (C) Mann observed that U.S. energy companies are complaining about difficulties in working with the GOAJ and SOCAR. Mann raised the need for senior-level GOAJ attention to this issue, particularly as western companies consider the possible modalities of sending Turkmen gas through Azerbaijan. Mammadyarov suggested raising this issue with SOCAR VP Elshad Nasirov. ¶8. (C) Mammadyarov said that he will travel to Berlin on December 3; the substance of the visit will be to sign an MOU on energy cooperation, similar to the agreement Azerbaijan signed with the US, and launch a joint energy dialogue. Mammadyarov noted this will be the first bilateral energy memorandum with a European state. Nagorno-Karabakh -------------- ¶9. Mammadyarov criticized Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian's recent public statement highlighting the religious nature of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict. Mammadyarov observed that Sarkisian will not be able to survive ten years in office without moderating his stance on the conflict; his biggest problem will be dealing with pressure from the Armenian diaspora. Mammadyarov said he heard from OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fassier that Armenian President Robert Kocharian may become a Gazprom board member after stepping down from the Presidency. Pressure against Journalist -------------- ¶10. (C) The Ambassador raised the recent detention of Azadliq journalist Genimet Zahidov, underscoring that this appears to be part of a disturbing trend of deliberate pressure against the independent and pro-opposition media, and that this damages Azerbaijan's image. Mammadyarov was unusually defensive about the case, arguing extensively that the GOAJ culd not tolerate a journalist attacking another itizen, but ultimately concluding "I hear you." Mmmadyarov complained that the U.S. public statement was too strong. The Ambassador told Mammadyarov that a letter from several Ambassadors would be sent to the Foreign Minister in the coming days, requesting a meeting to talk about the state of democracy in Azerbaijan. Mammadyarov indicated he was open to such a meeting. ¶11. (U) PDAS Ambassador Mann has cleared this cable. DERSE