AZERBAIJANI MFA SAYS 2007 IS THE YEAR FOR ENHANCED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000421 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, SCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG AJ TX SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI MFA SAYS 2007 IS THE YEAR FOR ENHANCED TURKMEN RELATIONS REF: BAKU 238 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In an April 10 meeting with the Ambassador, DFM Khalaf Khalafov said that the only obstacle to enhanced bilateral Turkmen-Azerbaijani relations was Caspian delimitation, and that he was confident that with the new Turkmen leadership this problem could be resolved in 2007. This issue's resolution would enable reciprocal head of State visits in 2007. Foreign Minister Mammadyarov will visit Ashgabat to begin talks to clear all outstanding issues, with late May being the tentative timeframe. Khalafov said that the USG could help bring about these enhanced bilateral relations by making the point with Ashgabat that it should respond positively to GOAJ efforts to strengthen its relations with Baku. Khalafov called the benefits of a bilateral Trans-Caspian project "obvious." He said that both Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan agree that only the two involved states need to agree to build a pipeline, but they are afraid to say so due to Russia's possible reaction. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On April 10 Ambassador Derse accompanied, by EnergyOff met with MFA DFM Khalaf Khalafov to discuss the two subjects of Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relations and Iran (the latter to be reported separately). ¶3. (C) Ambassador Derse said that there was increased USG-TKM interaction since the change in Turkmenistan,s leadership, and that Ambassador Mann planned to travel again to Turkmenistan in late April or early May. She asked if the MFA would be amenable to Ambassador Mann's stopping off in Baku for discussions about Turkmenistan as part of his trip. Khalafov said the MFA would welcome a visit from Ambassador Mann. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador referred to Khalafov's request, voiced in their most recent meeting (reftel),to coordinate on Turkmenistan. As such, she sought Khalafov's views on how the USG could facilitate strengthened bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Khalafov said the GOAJ was grateful for USG support for its Caspian policies, which is based on international laws and norms. The GOAJ believes that resolving outstanding bilateral delimitation issues with Turkmenistan would "eliminate all problems" between the two countries. Previous contentious bilateral issues all stemmed from "subjective and irrational" ideas (i.e. from the late Turkmenbashi). Once "wrong impressions" were removed from the bilateral dialogue, there would be no delimitation problems between the two countries. More specifically, Khalafov said that the previous Turkmen claims for the Azeri and Chirag fields have "no legal basis" and should be withdrawn. He believes that the current Turkmen leadership is inclined to resolve the Azeri/Chirag problem, and that this resolution would open the way for greater opportunities for Turkmenistan. ASHGABAT APRIL 23-24 TALKS -------------- ¶5. (C) Khalafov confirmed a statement he made in the press that the next round of delimitation talks among the five littoral states would take place in Ashgabat April 23-24. In this regard, Khalafov told the Ambassador that he also wanted to pursue bilateral delimitation talks with Turkmenistan, since he believed that if Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan came to a bilateral delimitation agreement there would be no need for the imprimateur of the other littoral states. He said that if indeed the two countries could agree on the principles of delimitation, then "all problems would be solved" between the two countries. The main issue in this regard is the base lines, but if Turkmenistan continues to work on the same basic principles as have Russia and Kazakhstan, then Azerbaijan should be able to reach agreement regarding base lines and a median line. ¶6. (C) Khalafov repeated what the FM had previously told the Ambassador: that FM Mammadyarov planned a visit to Ashgabat, possibly in May. If this meeting goes well and he is able to meet with President Berdimukhamedov, then there would be opportunities for further intensification of the bilateral relationship and for a Trans-Caspian project, which Khalafov called an "obvious project that should be made." Khalafov said that Berdimukhamedov seemed to be "smart and pragmatic." BAKU 00000421 002 OF 002 However, he complained that the leadership both in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan should "show more initiative" in reaching out to Azerbaijan. Ambassador Derse said that President Aliyev has also pointed out that Azerbaijan is the "initiator," and that in this case Azerbaijan was "ready for Turkmen gas," a point with which Khalafov agreed. ¶7. (C) Remembering back to pre-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline days, Khalafov said that in 1993 after the signing of the "Contract of the Century," Azerbaijan had received a very intemperate diplomatic note from Russia, saying that Russia "would not allow one-sided projects" (i.e. the BTC) and that the Russian Federation reserved the right to "restore rules that were unilaterally abrogated." The Ambassador said she hoped that Russia would be "more relaxed" about Turkmenistan, pointing out that USG policy was not "anti-Russian;" it merely sought to enhance diversification of supply to Europe. Khalafov said that the GOAJ shared this strategic goal. ALL PROBLEMS SOLVED IN 07 -------------- ¶8. (C) Referring to the recently signed USG-GOAJ Energy MOU, Ambassador Derse told Khalafov that at the bilateral Energy Roundtable held during the FM's February Washington Visit, participants discussed ways the GOAJ could reach out to Europe, and how to support GOAJ outreach to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Adding that the follow-on Energy bilateral meeting might be in June, she again asked Khalafov how the USG could best facilitate strengthened GOAJ-TKM relations. Khalafov responded that Turkmenistan needs to feel that enhanced cooperation with the GOAJ is in its best interests, so the USG should reinforce this message in its discussions with Ashgabat. Khalafov said that the MFA thinks that it is possible that all outstanding bilateral issues with Turkmenistan can be resolved within 2007, setting the stage for reciprocal Presidential visits within 2007. Foreign Minister Mammadyarov's visit is aimed to prepare the way for a Presidential meeting. The Ambasador told Khalafov that in its discussions with Turkmenistan it will make the point that the GOAJ is reaching out to Turkmenistan and encourage the Turkmen government to respond positively. Other Officials Reiterate Message -------------- ¶9. (C) Embassy has heard the same message as the one delivered by Khalafov in meetings with other GOAJ officials on Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations. Presidential Administration Foreign Policy officer Hassan Mammadzade told Poloff recently "we are ready" for full cooperation with Turkmenistan. Mammadzade said he was "optimistic" that under Berdimukhamedov, Turkmenistan would establish "normalized" relations with Azerbaijan and possibly change "the strategic orientation" of Turkmenistan. Mammadzade also was upbeat that Presidents Aliyev and Berdimukhamedov would meet in ¶2007. MFA Second Territorial Department Deputy Head Aziz Aliyev, who is responsible for relations with Turkmenistan, told Poloff recently there is a "strong potential" for developing the bilateral relationship and that Azerbaijan,s key foreign policy goal vis--vis Central Asia is to assist the energy producing states sent their energy resources to European markets. Aliyev also identified Caspian delimitation as the key bilateral issue to be resolved. The GOAJ appears to have dropped its recent demand that the GOT open its Embassy in Baku as a condition for future visits, and has made a decision to actively pursue the new opening in Turkmenistan. ¶10. (C) Embassy hopes that Ambassador Mann and TDA's Dan Stein can stop in Baku when they travel next to the region. DERSE