PRESIDENT ALIYEV APPROVES AZERBAIJAN'S NATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000647 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2026 TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS RU IR AJ SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ALIYEV APPROVES AZERBAIJAN'S NATIONAL SECURITY CONCEPT REF: A. BAKU 1622 ¶B. BAKU 1753 Classified By: AMBASSADOR DERSE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B, C) ¶1. President Ilham Aliyev approved Azerbaijan's "National Security Concept" (NSC) on May 23, 2007 via a presidential directive. The full text of the NSC appeared in many Azerbaijani newspapers. The translated text of the directive is provided below: BEGIN TRANSLATION ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCEPT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC PRESIDENT'S DIRECTIVE In the world, quickly changing conditions separate states and mankind's completeness, terrorism, ethnic separatism and conflicts, the increase of transnational criminal organizations, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, elimination of natural resources, population increase and mass migration, degradation of the environment, etc. are security threats that we face. These factor into every state's priorities and therefore it is necessary to define the security risks, and confront and take adequate measures against these risks. The Azerbaijani Republic's independence, territorial integrity, constitutional order, the interests of the people and the country, protecting against foreign and domestic threats, are policy goals and are defined. I have taken the decision that: ¶1. The Azerbaijan Republic's National Security Concept has been approved. ¶2. The organs that guarantee the Azerbaijan Republic's national security are to implement the articles of the National Security Concept in their activities. ¶3. The Azerbaijan Republic's Cabinet of Ministers is assigned to be sure that the articles of the NSC are fulfilled and in so doing are to constantly keep the President of the Azerbaijani Republic informed. ¶4. According to the directive of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan number 394 dated September 17, 2004, which created the Azerbaijan Republic national security policy "working group", the group has been assigned to do following: 4.1. In a three month period prepare the Republic of Azerbaijan's military doctrine and present to the President for approval of the parliament (Milli Majlis). 4.2. During the years 2007-2008, as was intended in the NSC, prepare the Azerbaijan Republic's foreign policy strategy, defense concept, economic concept, cultural, science, education, health and transportation draft concepts for presentation to the President. ¶5. This decree takes effect as of the date it was published. Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan Republic President Baku May 23, 2007 END TRANSLATION ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Completion of the NSC is an important accomplishment in Azerbaijan's NATO IPAP implementation. It is unclear whether the version approved by the President differs from the text presented to the Embassy in late 2006 (ref). We will compare the two texts and report any changes septel. We also note the President's instructions to the NSC "working group" to continue its work is an important step toward policy--rationalizing Azerbaijan's policymaking structure--and a bureaucratic victory for DFM Araz Azimov. LU