Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU94
2007-01-19 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY GRANTED ACCESS TO
how-toVZCZCXRO2934 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0094 0191425 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191425Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2236 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000094
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY GRANTED ACCESS TO
POSSESSIONS TWO MONTHS AFTER EVICTION
REF: A. BAKU 00062
B. BAKU 06 1714
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JASON P. HYLAND PER 1.4(B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000094
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY GRANTED ACCESS TO
POSSESSIONS TWO MONTHS AFTER EVICTION
REF: A. BAKU 00062
B. BAKU 06 1714
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JASON P. HYLAND PER 1.4(B,D)
1. (SBU) Nearly two months after being evicted from its
downtown office space, the opposition Popular Front Party
(PFP) was granted full access to its belongings January 19.
During the November 25 eviction, the GOAJ had removed PFP's
belongings from the 33 Khagani location, leaving them at a
distant, run-down building designated by the State Property
Committee to be PFP's "new office" (see reftels). Citing
problems with the condition of the building, as well as its
location on the outskirts of Baku, PFP stated that the party
would work out of opposition Azerbaijani Democratic Party
headquarters - the location to which PFP attempted to move
its possessions. However, until January 19, police prevented
party members from moving their possessions, sometimes
claiming that they were acting under orders from the Ministry
of Internal Affairs (MIA).
2. (C) The GOAJ's decision to finally allow PFP access to its
belongings appears to have occurred as a direct result of
Embassy pressure. After the Ambassador raised USG concerns
with Foreign Minister Mammadyarov in a January 18 meeting, he
phoned her shortly after the meeting to assure her that the
issue would be immediately resolved. He also asked that
Embassy officials witness the January 19 moving process.
3. (C) Emboffs observed the January 19 moving process, which
Deputy Police Chief Yashar Aliyev oversaw. While roughly a
dozen police officers were present, there were no
representatives from either the Baku Mayor's Office or the
State Property Committee, two GOAJ bodies involved in earlier
discussions with PFP on the property issue. The process was
carried out in a peaceful and organized manner. Aliyev and
PFP Deputy Chair Mustafayev agreed that PFP members would
remove all property that was in good condition, after which
experts would assess the damaged property to determine what
could be repaired and the price that would be awarded for
property beyond repair. Aliyev told Poloff that total damages
would be decided within a week, after which PFP would be
compensated. PFP Press Officer Isaak Avazoglu reported that
some expensive press equipment was missing, including a video
camera, lights, and microphones. He said that the party would
file a claim with the GOAJ for the missing property.
DERSE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION PARTY GRANTED ACCESS TO
POSSESSIONS TWO MONTHS AFTER EVICTION
REF: A. BAKU 00062
B. BAKU 06 1714
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JASON P. HYLAND PER 1.4(B,D)
1. (SBU) Nearly two months after being evicted from its
downtown office space, the opposition Popular Front Party
(PFP) was granted full access to its belongings January 19.
During the November 25 eviction, the GOAJ had removed PFP's
belongings from the 33 Khagani location, leaving them at a
distant, run-down building designated by the State Property
Committee to be PFP's "new office" (see reftels). Citing
problems with the condition of the building, as well as its
location on the outskirts of Baku, PFP stated that the party
would work out of opposition Azerbaijani Democratic Party
headquarters - the location to which PFP attempted to move
its possessions. However, until January 19, police prevented
party members from moving their possessions, sometimes
claiming that they were acting under orders from the Ministry
of Internal Affairs (MIA).
2. (C) The GOAJ's decision to finally allow PFP access to its
belongings appears to have occurred as a direct result of
Embassy pressure. After the Ambassador raised USG concerns
with Foreign Minister Mammadyarov in a January 18 meeting, he
phoned her shortly after the meeting to assure her that the
issue would be immediately resolved. He also asked that
Embassy officials witness the January 19 moving process.
3. (C) Emboffs observed the January 19 moving process, which
Deputy Police Chief Yashar Aliyev oversaw. While roughly a
dozen police officers were present, there were no
representatives from either the Baku Mayor's Office or the
State Property Committee, two GOAJ bodies involved in earlier
discussions with PFP on the property issue. The process was
carried out in a peaceful and organized manner. Aliyev and
PFP Deputy Chair Mustafayev agreed that PFP members would
remove all property that was in good condition, after which
experts would assess the damaged property to determine what
could be repaired and the price that would be awarded for
property beyond repair. Aliyev told Poloff that total damages
would be decided within a week, after which PFP would be
compensated. PFP Press Officer Isaak Avazoglu reported that
some expensive press equipment was missing, including a video
camera, lights, and microphones. He said that the party would
file a claim with the GOAJ for the missing property.
DERSE