DRL A/S LOWENKRON'S DECEMBER 18 MEETING WITH FM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000085 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL HUM KDEM SUBJECT: DRL A/S LOWENKRON'S DECEMBER 18 MEETING WITH FM MAMMADYAROV Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a December 18 meeting with visiting DRL A/S Lowenkron and the Ambassador, FM Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan was addressing many of the problems that stood in the way of its becoming a secular, developed democracy, including corruption, rule of law, rural unemployment, and access to basic education. He said that although the government was "fighting every hour, every day," toward this end, the effort would be a "generational one," and that what was most important was that Azerbaijan make "careful, irreversible" progress. With regard to freedom of the media and assembly, he said that the government needed a "two-way approach" in which journalists and the political opposition had to act responsibly. The meeting was interrupted by a summons to the Presidential Apparat where the discussion continued with President Aliyev (septel). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On December 18 visiting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron and the Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Mammadyarov. Also present were DRL/AE Deputy Director Lisa Heller, DRL/AE Foreign Affairs Officer Wendy Silverman, and EconOff notetaker. ¶3. (C) A/S Lowenkron told FM Mammadyarov that he was glad to be in Azerbaijan, and that he had hoped to visit sooner after President Aliyev's historic visit to Washington earlier that year. He said that although his trip had been delayed, he hoped to be a regular visitor to Baku. ¶4. (C) FM Mammadyarov welcomed A/S Lowenkron, noting that his visit was important, symbolizing one of the 'three pillars' of the bilateral relationship. Mammadyarov said that the GOAJ wanted to expand its cooperation with the USG and enhance its integration into the European and Euroatlantic community. Azerbaijan was ready to take the next step, with Mammadyarov saying that the GOAJ now "had the skeleton" for democracy, and "all it needed was more muscles." He said that the GOAJ was quite happy with President Bush's statements during the credentialing ceremony of the new Azerbaijan Ambassador to the US. ¶5. (C) A/S Lowenkron said that in discussing the state of various countries with Secretary Rice, she never uses the terms "bad" or "good," but instead inquires about the "trajectories" of these countries. In judging the trajectories, she uses a three-pronged approach, focusing on electoral issues, governance issues and civil society. A/S Lowenkron then asked FM Mammadyarov how the USG can best help the GOAJ to optimize its trajectory, and how it can help the GOAJ work toward actualizing President Aliyev's vision for Azerbaijan that he laid out when he visited Washington. ¶6. (C) FM Mammadyarov said that President Aliyev's visit to the US, and other high-level bilateral visits, indicate that Azerbaijan is on the path towards becoming a politically and economically developed, secular democracy. However, Azerbaijan, with its legacy of a Soviet, 'command economy,' does not have an historical legacy that facilitates this type of development, and the government needs to "change the 'mentality' of the people" so that they can understand how western democracies function. The conflict with Armenia also had an effect on the initial aspects of Azerbaijan's movements in this direction. ¶7. (C) FM Mammadyarov said that he knows that the USG understands that the GOAJ needs to implement these changes "in an evolutionary manner." The Council of Europe and the USG are helping fashion the requisite legal infrastructure, but implementation has to be done "carefully and correctly." Changing laws is one matter; but "implementation is another story. Changing psychology is different, and much harder." As such, President Aliyev wants to use the GOAJ's increased revenue to invest in education, because democracy-building is a "generational process." In this regard, in 2005 the GOAJ joined the Council of Europe's "Bologna Process." ¶8. (C) FM Mammadyarov said that President Aliyev wishes to repair and build new schools, so that Azerbaijani youth feel that they are living in "a new state." He has also tasked the Council of Ministers to "fully computerize" Azerbaijan's 4,500 schools, with full access to the Internet - "without computers you cannot think of a well-established society." New textbooks are also being written, although this too will take time. The GOAJ will also spend significant resources in BAKU 00000085 002 OF 002 social protection (i.e. social insurance). "The State will protect its citizens," FM Mammadyarov stated. ¶9. (C) FM Mammadyarov said that this state protection would extend to Azerbaijan's IDPs and refugees, although he said that with a population of 8 million, absorbing one million refugees and approximately 760 thousand IDPs is impossible. Mammadyarov added that the GOAJ would focus on getting rid of the 'tent camps,' as it did not want the children growing in them to "become like Palestinians." To this end, the GOAJ was initiating a mobile housing program for its refugees and IDPs, "so that they can take their belongings back with them," when they can return to their homes. FM Mammadyarov also said that since over 50 percent of Azerbaijanis lived in rural areas, the GOAJ was also focusing on the agricultural sector, to include agro-leasing and fertilizer provision. ¶10. (C) FM Mammadyarov acknowledged the challenges ahead. Concerning corruption, FM Mammadyarov said that the GOAJ knew that this was a serious challenge, although there was much public misunderstanding concerning this issue. He said the government knew it must address this as well as rule-of-law issues. Corruption was present in every society, including the US, as evidenced by the Enron case. What is most important is that the GOAJ recognizes the problem and is moving to address it. The GOAJ would enact reforms in this regard "not to please anyone, but because we want to." It would be wrong to set a time-table for these reforms, Mammadyarov said. "What is important is that we are fighting, every hour, every day," and that the process continues, step by step in a careful, irreversible manner. There would be "more ups than downs," and FM Mammadyarov said he was "excited" about Azerbaijan's future. ¶11. (C) A/S Lowenkron agreed democracy building is a long term process, but efforts could not be deferred. Although there is no "one size fits all blueprint," values were universal. He acknowledged that Azerbaijan's efforts would be "multi-generational," and affirmed that civic education and controlling corruption would be key factors. ¶12. (C) Concerning media freedom, FM Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijani journalists needed more and better training, to include training in journalistic ethics. The media has to be responsible. A/S Lowenkron pointed out that the media has to be allowed to grow, "warts and all." He also pointed out that freedom of assembly was another key element of Azerbaijan's movement towards democracy. FM Mammadyarov agreed, but pointed out that those who assemble must behave responsibly, and not seek to "shake the country." Calling for a two-way approach, FM Mammadyarov said that "the opposition has to behave like grownups," and that both the government and the opposition need to be educated. He added that the GOAJ was also addressing this issue. When A/S Lowenkron noted that President's call for a dialogue with the opposition, FM Mammadyarov replied that the President's vision was of an opposition that conducted itself in a civilized manner, not by hunger strikes. ¶13. (C) COMMENT: A/S Lowenkron's meeting with FM Mammadyarov was interrupted by a summons from the Presidential Apparat for both A/S Lowenkron and FM Mammadyarov. Many of the themes discussed in this meeting also were sounded in the meeting with the President (septel). END COMMENT. ¶14. (U) A/S Lowenkron cleared this message. DERSE