Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU595
2007-05-16 13:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CAUTIONING AZERBAIJAN AGAINST

Tags:  PHUM PREL ECON BO RU AJ 
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PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHKB #0595/01 1361324
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 161324Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3017
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2137
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0568
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0231
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA SZ PRIORITY 0272
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000595 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL ECON BO RU AJ
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CAUTIONING AZERBAIJAN AGAINST
CLOSER RELATIONS WITH BELARUS

REF: A. BAKU 568


B. STATE 61831

C. STATE 63345

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000595

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL ECON BO RU AJ
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CAUTIONING AZERBAIJAN AGAINST
CLOSER RELATIONS WITH BELARUS

REF: A. BAKU 568


B. STATE 61831

C. STATE 63345

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) As reported ref a, the Ambassador delivered ref b
demarche cautioning Azerbaijan against closer relations with
Belarus in separate May 10 conversations with President
Aliyev's Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev, who said he would
inform President Aliyev, and Foreign Policy Advisor Novruz
Mammadov, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud
Mammadguliyev and on May 11 with Deputy Foreign Minister
Khalafov. In all four conversations, the Ambassador
underscored the importance of this issue to the US-Azerbaijan
bilateral relationship, noting that democratic countries
should not be seen as supportive of Belarus' repressive
policies. She also urged Azerbaijan not to support Belarus'
candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council, a message she
subsequently reinforced with Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov in a May 14 conversation. Azimov (who is responsible
for UN issues in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry) said he
does not know whether Azerbaijan had promised its vote to
Belarus. He explained that Azerbaijan in all likelihood had
decided this issue six to 12 months earlier, as Azerbaijan
regularly swaps votes on UN issues in exchange for support on
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azimov said that Azerbaijan
votes in the UN "on the basis of pragmatic interests," and it
may be too late to change its position on Belarus, UNHRC
candidacy. Azimov promised to consult Foreign Minister
Mammadyarov and confirm whether Azerbaijan had a commitment
to Belarus. In a May 15 conversation, Azimov informed the
Ambassador he had not yet been able to reach Mammadyarov, who
is in Islamabad for an OIC conference.


2. (C) Separately, Pol/Econ Chief delivered ref b and c
demarches to Rahman Mustafayev, Director of the MFA's First
Territorial Division (the division responsible for bilateral
relations with the Americas, Europe and the CIS) on May 15.
Pol/Econ Chief also underscored the importance of the issue

to our bilateral relationship, noting that Azerbaijan's
support for the Lukashenko regime contradicts Azerbaijan's
stated goals of democratization and integration into
Euro-Atlantic structures. It is difficult to understand how
Azerbaijan can pursue "strategic partnerships" with both
Belarus and the United States.


3. (C) Mustafayev argued that Belarus is making a strategic
shift away from Russia and it is therefore incumbent upon
Western-oriented states such as Azerbaijan to reach out to
Belarus. Mustafayev said that Belarus over the last two to
three years has increasingly asserted its independence from
Russia and is now actively seeking improved relations with
states such as Azerbaijan and Ukraine in order to bolster its
position vis-a-vis Russia. Pulling out his notes from
Lukashenko's visit, Mustafayev said he was very surprised to
hear Lukashenko making thinly veiled anti-Russian statements
throughout the visit. During various signing ceremonies, for
example, Lukashenko said, "this is necessary to show our
neighbors what we think" and "this is necessary for both our
countries' independence." These comments, Mustafayev noted,
have come from the same man who previously had argued for
unification with Russia. He asked whether it was better to
leave Belarus alone with Russia or engage it in a network of
independent-minded states such as Azerbaijan.


4. (C) Mustafayev also argued that Azerbaijan would benefit
from greater economic engagement with Belarus.
Characterizing Lukashenko's visit to Baku as "very
successful" in this regard, Mustafayev said that the two
countries had signed several important agreements,
particularly in the heavy machinery sector. Azerbaijan seeks
to revitalize its long dormant manufacturing sector, and
Belarus has expertise and investment that can help.
Azerbaijan in turn could be an important market for Belarus'
industrial sector. Belarus, Mustafayev said, has the
capacity to be a manufacturing powerhouse; wouldn't economic
growth, stimulated by trade with states such as Azerbaijan,
ultimately lead to the sort of democratic reform in Belarus
that the West seeks?


5. (C) Pol/Econ Chief responded that Azerbaijan's analysis
of Belarus' changing foreign policy priorities was
interesting, and that we would appreciate any further
insights into Lukashenko's thoughts. However, the US and the
EU had pursued a policy of constructive engagement with

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Lukashenko for years and determined that it was not
effective. Belarus is by far the most repressive regime in
Europe, and Azerbaijan's interests -- particularly its goals
of Euro-Atlantic integration and strong relations with the
United States -- are not served by close relations with
Belarus.
DERSE