KEY MP ANALYZES AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 000309 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR KDEM AJ SUBJECT: KEY MP ANALYZES AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, IRAN, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER 1.4(B,D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a March 6 meeting with the Ambassador, Chair of Parliament's International Relations Commission Samad Seyidov discussed Azerbaijan's role in the Council of Europe and in GUAM. He outlined growing Russian influence in Azerbaijan, and expressed frustration over Russian pressure on other countries in the region. Seyidov analyzed Azerbaijan's relationship with Iran, emphasizing that Azerbaijan "understands" Iran, while calling upon the U.S. for greater support. He said that Azerbaijan can be a "key to the Muslim world," highlighting the country's success as a secular, religiously tolerant Shia Muslim state. Seyidov expressed a strong desire for increased interaction between the Azerbaijani Parliament and the U.S. Congress, noting that many European countries have long had this interaction, and have successfully developed extensive informal ties. He requested the Embassy's help in expanding Parliament's ties with Congress, as well as with U.S. universities, foundations and think tanks. We believe strengthened dialogue and institutional ties with the Azerbaijani Parliament will advance our goal of strengthening Parliament as an independent and democratic institution, and will work to identify such opportunities. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) On March 6, the Ambassador met with Samad Seyidov, who serves as a ruling party Member of Parliament (MP),Chair of Parliament's International Relations Commission, head of Azerbaijan's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),member of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary working group, and Rector of the University of Languages. Seyidov told the Ambassador that he was pleased that Azerbaijan is becoming "more important for the rest of the world," but said Azerbaijan's growing importance also poses some problems. He said that while some countries want to see Azerbaijan become a modern, democratic member of the Euro-Atlantic community, there is a small group emerging that wants to prevent Azerbaijan's Euro-Atlantic integration. According to Seyidov, Azerbaijan faces problems with growing religious fundamentalism, influence from neighboring countries, and tensions with Armenia. COUNCIL OF EUROPE -------------- ¶3. (C) Seyidov said that while Azerbaijan is building stronger relationships within PACE, it is not easy to make other PACE member states understand Azerbaijan's sensitive geopolitical situation. He said that aggressive behavior by the Armenian delegation was creating friction with the Azerbaijani delegation, whose members Seyidov admitted sometimes also aggravate the Armenian delegation. In addition, he said that PACE Monitoring Committee Co-Rapporteur Andreas Gross approaches Azerbaijan with "heavy steps," using force, while Parliamentary Assembly Vice President Tony Lloyd takes a realistic approach that "fits" Azerbaijan. According to Seyidov, the CoE is becoming increasingly important for Azerbaijan as it becomes more Western-oriented, especially in the sphere of human rights. He noted that Azerbaijan's commitments with the CoE will be examined in the April PACE session, and that he expects strong support from Azerbaijan's closest allies in PACE - namely Turkey and the GUAM members. GUAM -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Seyidov, while Georgia and Moldova have signed and ratified all GUAM-related documents, some forces in the Ukrainian Parliament are trying to prevent the organization from being successful. Seyidov said that this effort is led by Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, as a result of strong Russian pressure. Despite that obstacle, he said that the GUAM countries have formed a strong alliance in PACE, and Romania and Bulgaria have indicated that they wish to support the GUAM states in PACE. In addition, Seyidov noted some of GUAM's positive achievements, such as a pending agreement regarding diplomatic exchanges between the member states. RUSSIA -------------- ¶5. (C) Seyidov waxed nostalgic about Russia's influence on Azerbaijani culture, but, he emphasized, "politics is different." He said that he wished there were two Russias: one in his heart, and one far from him. Seyidov complained of strong Russian pressure in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan that was causing Azerbaijan difficulty in its bilateral relationships with the countries, but insisted that Georgia's BAKU 00000309 002 OF 003 tumultuous relationship with Russia had the highest stakes. According to Seyidov, Georgia and Azerbaijan must stick together in their mutual pursuit of Euro-Atlantic integration, and both countries fully understand this. However, he cautioned, others understand this as well and are trying to prevent such integration. Without providing specifics, Seyidov said that Russia is spending a lot of money in ways that "are not acceptable to Azerbaijan." He said that Russia is trying to divide and rule; to create obstacles to show who is the "master" in the region. IRAN -------------- ¶6. (C) When it comes to Iran, Seyidov said, Azerbaijan wants to help. He said that Iran is not easy for other countries to understand, but that Azerbaijan has been able to maintain civil relationships with Iran. Azerbaijan knows what Iran is trying to do, stressed Seyidov, and knows how it is trying to spend money. Seyidov said that Azerbaijan can help others, like the U.S., to understand Iran. Noting that Iran has no regard for international law, Seyidov acknowledged that Azerbaijan has had problems with Iran, listing as examples Iran's violations of Azerbaijani airspace and construction of oil platforms apparently to explore in Azerbaijan's waters. But, Seyidov emphasized, Azerbaijan wants to help Iran understand that it must behave according to international law, that a peaceful solution is the only path. To do this, Seyidov said, Azerbaijan needs support; it cannot deal with Iran alone. According to Seyidov, the time has come to demonstrate that Azerbaijan is in solidarity with the West, and values its partnership with the CoE, NATO, and the European Union. DEMOCRACY, SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE -------------- ¶7. (C) Seyidov said that in addition to securit, independence is an important part of Azerbaijans future. In his view, independence will be achived through real democracy. Seyidov noted that Aerbaijan might be less secure than Armenia - dueto disputes over Caspian demarcation and land boders with Russia - but that it is more independent. According to Seyidov, Azerbaijan is "really playing the game" when it comes to democracy. He stressed that people's mentality cannot change overnight, but that a democratic mindset is slowly forming among the Azerbaijani population. Seyidov said that democracy would secure a strong economy in Azerbaijan, and that Azerbaijan could set a good example of managing its oil income in a transparent and democratic manner. He noted that Azerbaijan is a very religiously tolerant state, and that it could show the Muslim world that it is possible for Islam and democracy to co-exist. In addition, he said, Azerbaijan can serve as a "key" for the U.S. to the Muslim world. EXPANDING PARLIAMENTARY TIES -------------- ¶8. (C) Seyidov noted that Parliament could play a much greater role in Azerbaijan's political system, but that it needs mentoring. According to Seyidov, Parliament wants to strengthen its links with the U.S. He noted that Parliament has established "friendship groups" with 69 countries, and that the U.S.-Azerbaijan group was much less active than its Western European counterparts. Seyidov said that it is difficult for MPs to understand the intricacies of the U.S. Congress, how the U.S. lobby system works. As a result, he continued, the U.S. seems like a closed country to Azerbaijan, while Europe is much more accessible. Seyidov offered to organize meetings for any U.S. visitors to Azerbaijan - particularly members of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary working group - and requested an invitation letter from U.S. Congressmen, universities, foundations or think tanks for Azerbaijani MPs to visit the U.S. He said that although he and other MPs have relationships with a few individual Congressmen, they were interested in developing greater institutional ties. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) A key U.S. goal in Azerbaijan is to help the Parliament develop as a strong, independent and democratic institution. Greater exchanges between U.S. institutions and Azerbaijani MPs will help advance our long-term policy of strengthening Parliament. To that end, we support Seyidov's request for greater institutional ties with the United States and will work with the Department and private institutions to identify such opportunities. The Embassy welcomes visitors BAKU 00000309 003 OF 003 from the U.S. who would like to engage with Parliament, and in particular would welcome a visit to Azerbaijan by the U.S. members of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary working group. BIO NOTE -------------- ¶10. (C) Samad Seyidov was born in January 1964 in Baku. He is married and has two children. Seyidov earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Leningrad State University in 1986, where he graduated with honors. Throughout the 1990s, Seyidov taught at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, where he later became Rector. He was elected to Parliament in 2000, and elected Chair of the International Relations Commission in ¶2001. Seyidov was re-elected in 2005. As an MP, Seyidov is also the head of Azerbaijan's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and a member of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary working group. Young and ambitious, Seyidov is among the most active MPs. He is rumored to be close to President Aliyev, and to sometimes clash with Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev. In the long debate over changes to Azerbaijan's education system - which Azerbaijan has agreed to bring into compliance with the Council of Europe's Bologna Process - Seyidov has taken a stand against powerful ruling party figures, such as the President's uncle, MP Jalal Aliyev, in supporting education system reform and modernization. We consider Seyidov to be one of the more constructive, moderate ruling party interlocutors. Seyidov speaks fluent English. DERSE