JOSEPH WOOD'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000695 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/CARC; PLEASE PASS TO JOSEPH WOOD AT THE OVP E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL AJ SUBJECT: JOSEPH WOOD'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF RAMIZ MEHDIYEV REF: A. 06 BAKU 1700 ¶B. BAKU 00557 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs Joseph Wood and the Ambassador met with Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev on May 30 to discuss the bilateral relationship. Mehdiyev reviewed Azerbaijan's complex security situation, arguing that outside forces seek to take advantage of Azerbaijan's more open political system. Mehdiyev said that Azerbaijan is committed to democratic reforms, but this is an evolutionary, transitional process. Regarding international criticism of Azerbaijan's track record on media freedom, Mehdiyev focused on journalists' lack of professionalism and irresponsibility. Wood emphasized the importance of maximizing media freedom, while minimizing overreactions against the media. Mehdiyev was open to our engagement with the GOAJ working group on the Human Rights Action Plan, and he said that President Aliyev seeks to meet with journalists in June. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Mehdiyev welcomed Wood, remarking that good relations with the USG are a strategic goal for the GOAJ. The GOAJ is "aware" of U.S. interests in Azerbaijan, and we think they are "proper," said Mehdiyev. Wood told Mehdiyev that Azerbaijan and the broader region are important, and the USG is grateful for Azerbaijan's courageous, strategic choice to move toward the West. Security Overview -------------- ¶3. (C) Mehdiyev said Azerbaijan is situated in a very "severe" and "difficult" geopolitical location. Despite internal and external security challenges, the GOAJ has chosen its "strategic line," which is "integration with the West" and developing relations with the U.S. as our "strategic ally." ¶4. (C) The GOAJ is "very concerned with Iran" because Tehran is using "various channels" to strengthen its influence in Azerbaijan, Mehdiyev noted. Mehdiyev said he recently learned that an unspecified leader of one of Iran's security departments wrote to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamanei about ways to destabilize Azerbaijan. Mehdiyev remarked that Iran is intensifying its effort to reach out to Azerbaijani youth. As an example, Mehdiyev claimed that some Azerbaijani youth recently had been taken to Iran for religious courses. Iran also provides money to some Azerbaijani clerics, according to Mehdiyev. Mehdiyev raised the narcotics trade from Iran through Azerbaijani as "a second channel" for Tehran's goal of creating problems in Azerbaijan. ¶5. (C) Turning to Turkey, Mehdiyev noted that Ankara "has its own interests in Azerbaijan," and said the GOAJ is against some Turkish groups that seek to strengthen their position in Azerbaijan. Mehdiyev cited the Turkish Nurcu movement as a powerful and rich group that is worrisome for the GOAJ. ¶6. (C) Mehdiyev only made a passing reference to GOAJ concerns with Russia, noting that Russia "has its own interests." Mehdiyev also mentioned the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a pressing internal security challenge. Evolutionary Democratic Development -------------- ¶7. (C) Mehdiyev argued that Azerbaijan's security challenges should not be viewed through the prism of Azerbaijan's progress on democratic reform. Azerbaijan faces real security problems and outside forces seek to take advantage of Azerbaijani freedoms. Mehdiyev cited the example of some opposition forces being backed by outside forces. He also said Iran was behind the November 2006 publication of a newspaper article about the relationship between Islam and modernity in an attempt to provoke riots in Azerbaijan. (Note: Two Azerbaijani journalists were sentenced in May 2007 for writing the article, which argued that Islamic values were retrogressive for Azerbaijan's development. They were charged with inciting religious hatred. Reftels.) Mehdiyev claimed that authorities had to arrest the journalists in order to calm religious tensions, particularly in the conservative city of Nardaran. ¶8. (C) Mehdiyev said that the GOAJ is committed to democratic development, but this should be an evolutionary BAKU 00000695 002 OF 002 process because Azerbaijan is still in a "transition period." Mehdiyev explained that former President Heydar Aliyev had undertaken the difficult work of "building up the government," in the post-independence period. This work laid the basis for the GOAJ to pursue integration with the West. ¶9. (C) Mehdiyev sought to address international criticism about Azerbaijan's treatment of journalists by noting that journalists are often irresponsible and that Azerbaijan is still in the "state-building process." He underscored that journalists sometimes break the law, and they should be punished accordingly. Mehdiyev said there needs to be more training for journalists because "we need to enlighten them" and strengthen their "morality." Mehdiyev claimed, however, that there was a need for robust journalism in Azerbaijan. Mehdiyev pointed to the recent GOAJ-sponsored conference on "democracy in transitional societies" as evidence that the GOAJ is committed to the path of reform. Declining Media Freedom Hurts Azerbaijan's Image -------------- --- ¶10. (C) The Ambassador said the U.S. seeks to work on all issues in the bilateral relationship, including the difficult issues. The Ambassador underscored the importance of several forums -- including A/S Lowenkron's meetings with GOAJ officials and Azerbaijan's new National Action Plan on promoting human rights -- as useful venues for addressing Azerbaijan's movement toward political reform. Mehdiyev remarked that a working group, which includes an ombudsman and approximately 30 journalists and NGO members, was created as part of this action plan. Mehdiyev was also open to the Ambassador's request to engage with this working group; the Ambassador noted that we would follow up with Presidential Administration official Fuad Alasgarov. ¶11. (C) Mehdiyev was open to the Ambassador's suggestion that she and other Western ambassadors arrange a meeting with Mehdiyev to address the state of media freedom. The Ambassador noted that Western embassies want to help the GOAJ live up to its reform commitments. ¶12. (C) The Ambassador raised the number of libel cases brought against journalists as a troublesome development. Mehdiyev wryly explained that Azerbaijani society is conservative and is uncomfortable with publicly insulting private people. Mehdiyev also countered that individuals -- not the GOAJ -- had initiated libel suits against journalists. ¶13. (C) In response to the Ambassador's suggestion for more dialogue between the GOAJ and the media, Mehdiyev said President Aliyev plans to meet with journalists in June. Mehdiyev asked Wood and the Ambassador to keep this information private for now. Mehdiyev noted the meeting's purpose was to give the media "some assistance," as the GOAJ seeks to reach out to the press. The Ambassador noted that former President Heydar's outreach efforts to the media had initiated a valuable dialogue. Comment -------------- ¶14. (C) Mehdiyev's openness to our engagement with the human rights action plan working group, as well as his news that President Aliyev plans to meet with journalists are encouraging. We will continue to engage Mehdiyev and a range of other GOAJ officials in these areas, including through a planned "Friends of Azerbaijan" meeting with Mehdiyev on media freedom (septel). ¶15. (U) Deputy Assistant to the Vice President Wood did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. DERSE