PRESIDENT ALIYEV'S VISIT TO FRANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000161 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ENRG AJ SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ALIYEV'S VISIT TO FRANCE REF: 06 BAKU 1822 Classified By: DCM Jason P. Hyland for reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary. President Aliyev's January 29-31 state visit to France focused on advancing bilateral economic cooperation, but the visit also sought to develop the GOAJ's broader, strategic ties with the EU. Aliyev met with the French President, Prime Minister, and the leaders of the Senate and National Assembly, as well as the head of Total Oil and other French entrepreneurs. The visit's broadly drafted joint statement emphasized support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, cooperation in energy and investment in Azerbaijan's economy, and the desire to deepen the bilateral political relationship. During the visit, the GOAJ announced plans to purchase four new ATR French planes, a purchase that will not affect ongoing GOAJ negotiations to purchase three Boeing 787s. The French Embassy in Baku downplayed Aliyev,s visit, suggesting it did not result in any remarkable achievements. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Azerbaijani President Aliyev paid an official state visit to France from January 29-31. Local press coverage of the event was positive and widespread, with President Aliyev's website claiming the visit "will play an important role in laying the basis for the new stage of Azeri-French cooperation." In addition to meeting with the French President, Prime Minister, and the leaders of the Senate and National Assembly, Aliyev met with the head of Total Oil and other French entrepreneurs. President Aliyev was accompanied by Foreign Minister Mammadyarov, Emergency Situations Minister Heydarov, and Economic Development Minster Babayev, according to local press. The visit resulted in the signing of eight agreements, including in the fields of culture, tourism, civil defense and security, science and the purchase of four French airplanes, according to the Azerbaijani MFA. (Note: The purchase of the French airplanes is unlikely to slow ongoing negotiations between AZAL and Boeing for the potential purchase of three Boeing 787s--see reftel.) MFA Perspective: Bilateral and EU Ties are Central -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) MFA France desk officer Ayaz Gojayev said the visit was significant from a bilateral perspective and in the context of Azerbaijan's broader relations with the EU. Bilaterally, Gojayev emphasized the economic aspect of the visit. While energy traditionally has been the key element of Azerbaijani-French economic cooperation, the GOAJ is trying to develop its non-energy sector, according to Gojayev. France is Azerbaijan's third largest European trading partner, according to Gojayev, and there was a 2006 trade turnover of over 500,000 USD between the two partners. (Note: Italy and the UK are Azerbaijan's respective first and second largest European economic partners.) Gojayev highlighted the joint Azerbaijani-French statement adopted during the visit as the framework for understanding the visit. (Note: The joint statement is broadly drafted and covers a variety of issues, ranging from support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, commitment to cooperate in the fields of energy and investment in Azerbaijan's economy, and desire to deepen the bilateral political dialogue, according to local press.) ¶4. (C) In response to our question, Gojayev said there is a connection between Aliyev's November 2006 visit to Brussels, the French visit, and his upcoming visit to Germany in February. While the visits are important from a bilateral perspective, according to Gojayev, the GOAJ also seeks to develop closer relations with Europe. Gojayev emphasized the importance of the November 2006 EU Energy Memorandum and Azerbaijan's EU Neighborhood Policy Action Plan in laying the groundwork for increased ties with the EU. Other Perspectives -------------- ¶5. (C) French Embassy DCM Sylvain Guiaugue characterized the visit as a success, although he suggested that there were no remarkable achievements. Guiaugue noted that the primary French interests in Azerbaijan were access to Azerbaijan's energy resources and contributing to stability in the South Caucasus. While French and EU attention toward Azerbaijan has grown gradually, Guiaugue observed that the GOAJ may overestimate its relative importance for European policymakers. BAKU 00000161 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) Local commentators have told us that one of the visit's key purposes was to emphasize the European vector of Azerbaijan's "balanced foreign policy." Baku State University history professor Musa Qasimli highlighted that France is an important symbolic European partner for Azerbaijan, as President Aliyev's and former President Heydar Aliyev's first visits abroad were to France. Respected local analyst Ilgar Mammadov said that while the visit probably sought to showcase Azerbaijan's western-oriented foreign policy -- especially in light of Aliyev's November 2006 visit to Brussels and his February visit to Germany -- the visit appeared to lack concrete political results. Mammadov considered that the visit probably focused more on economic interests, including the purchase of the French airplanes and the prospects for Azerbaijan's oil and gas reserves to diversify European energy demands. (Note: Mammadov also observed that in terms of energy interests, Aliyev's February trip to Germany and Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev's late January visit to Germany are likely to be more substantive because Germany holds the EU Presidency.) Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) President Aliyev's visit to France tracks with the GOAJ's interest in developing and showcasing its relations with key European countries. As the EU has shown some interest in an increased role in the South Caucasus, bilateral visits to European capitals could serve the dual function of advancing Azerbaijan's bilateral relations and its broader ties with the EU. We believe that broader Azerbaijani engagement with Europe will help advance US interests in the key areas of energy security and democratic reform. DERSE