FOREIGN MINISTER MAMMADYAROV ON ENERGY AND HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000760

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: ECON EINV ENRG EPET PGOV PREL PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER MAMMADYAROV ON ENERGY AND HUMAN
RIGHTS


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


1. (C) Summary: During a June 14 meeting with the
Ambassador, Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said he recently
sent a letter to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to
push for a transit agreement, suggesting an agreement was
possible within one month. Mammadyarov said SOCAR will
negotiate the agreement. The Ambassador reviewed a series of
democracy commitments Mammadyarov made during his March
meeting with A/S for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Barry
Lowenkron, underscoring the importance of progress on these
issues amidst growing negative signs in the media and
business environments. Septel will report Mammadyarov's
comments on missile defense. End Summary.

Energy Developments
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2. (C) On progress toward a transit agreement with Turkey,
Mammadyarov suggested the ball was in Turkey's court.
Mammadyarov summarized the state of play as, "We have gas, we
have Greece, but we do not have Turkey." Mammadyarov said he
recently sent a letter to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul to push for a transit agreement and that the GOAJ is
ready to move forward on this issue. SOCAR and a
representative from Turkey's Ministry of Energy will likely
take the lead on reaching an agreement, according to
Mammadyarov, maybe in one month. Mammadyarov argued that
Turkey is saying that the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline (SCP)
pipeline is still not ready and that Turkey says it needs
"one more month," while observing that he recently had an
"interesting discussion" with representatives from the Public
Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA).

Human Rights Dialogue
--------------


3. (C) The Ambassador provided Mammadyarov with a list of
follow-up actions from his March meeting with A/S for
Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Barry Lowenkron as part of
the bilateral democracy and human rights dialogue, noting the
need to discuss progress in a subsequent meeting. Quickly
reviewing the document, Mammadyarov asked that journalists'
training be added to the media freedom section. The
Ambassador underscored that the declining state of media
freedom is raising concern in Washington, adding that the
inappropriate use of force to disburse a peaceful protest by
journalists was particularly disturbing. Mammadyarov said
that these type of incidents were "ridiculous" and "stupid,"
while raising the need for more journalists' training.
Mammadyarov also stated that some officials in the
Presidential Administration were angry about the bad press
they were receiving from local journalists. The Ambassador
also raised the Embassy's continuing inability to observe
Farhad Aliyev's trial and asked the Foreign Minister's
assistance in obtaining access.


4. (C) The Ambassador remarked that in another disturbing
trend, corruption in Azerbaijani is continuing to worsen.
Companies are encountering difficulties with customs, taxes,
and licensing processes. Mammadyarov remarked that the GOAJ
should address the corruption problem, but sought to deflect
this issue by raising GOAJ difficulties in getting local-hire
employees at the U.S. Embassy to pay Azerbaijani income
taxes.


5. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, Mammadyarov
said he was unsure who would be included on the Democracy
Council, suggesting that Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz
Mehdiyev would be the best person to address this issue.
Mammadyarov also broached the idea of the Embassy arranging a
voluntary visitor program for Mehdiyev, noting that Mehdiyev
hasnever visited the U.S. and implying that a visit would
broaden his views.
DERSE