A/S FRIED DELIVERS TOUGH MESSAGE ON MEDIA FREEDOM

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 159376

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE AJ
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED DELIVERS TOUGH MESSAGE ON MEDIA FREEDOM
TO AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.

REF: REF BAKU 1359

Classified By: EUR A/S DANIEL FRIED PER REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) European and Eurasian Affairs Assistant Secretary
Daniel Fried delivered a strong message on November 21 in
Washington to Azerbaijani Ambassador Yashar Aliyev on the
state of media freedom in Azerbaijan. Fried reviewed his
November 3-5 meetings in Baku, including a lengthy session
with President Aliyev, multiple fora with civil society and a
frank (if friendly) exchange with powerful Chief of Staff
Ramiz Mekhtiyev. The Assistant Secretary reiterated the core
points he shared in Baku: that while the President has thus
far skillfully advanced and protected Azerbaijan's
sovereignty, Azerbaijan's development of democratic
institutions is lagging - especially in view of the 'tsunami'
of oil wealth now entering its coffers; and the unending
series of arrests and detention of journalists serves no
purpose, and could only undermine Aliyev's attempts to build
a modern state.


2. (C) A/S Fried raised the latest detention by the GoAJ of
opposition paper Azadliq's editor, Ganimat Zahid, on the
charge of hooliganism. He echoed incredulously,
"hooliganism? Is this Moscow in 1979?" Fried pressed
further, "Does this sound plausible? Is this the publicity
you want coming out of your country?" Fried acknowledged
the President resented international criticism that painted
him as a dictator. Continued arrests of opposition
journalists, however, "weakens him and limits his strategic
choices". Ambassador Aliyev, listening intently, agreed to
convey the Assistant Secretary's points to Foreign Minister
Mammadyarov. He described the decision-makers in the GoAJ as
"sitting in a can" in Baku, with comfortable lives - unaware
of the destructive nature of international perception. If
the media crackdown continues apace, Fried emphasized that
internationally respected NGOs (e.g., Human Rights Watch)
will be harshly critical, as will the USG.


3. (C) A/S Fried urged Ambassador Aliyev to convey the
importance of a free and fair presidential election in
October 2008. By inviting a robust team of OSCE/ODHIR
election observers, President Aliyev can definitively
distinguish himself from Putin and autocrats such as Karimov.
Even without mentioning the Russian decisions that had made
impossible ODIHR,s mission to the parliamentary elections
there, Aliyev would send a strong message that "he is not
afraid" of honest elections, Fried pressed. Ambassador
Aliyev quickly agreed that President Aliyev has sufficient
support to win an election and that the GoAJ "must do our
best". Fried stressed it mattered to world opinion "what
kind of winner" emerged from the election.


4. (C) The Assistant Secretary reasoned that many of the
young, professional and patriotic Azerbaijanis he met in Baku
could provide a political base for Aliyev. Professionals,
entrepreneurs and youth are natural supporters of a strong
leader who serves as a guardian of stability and rule of law.
He said he had urged Chief of Staff Mekhtiyev to "grow your
electorate". Yet these reform-minded progressive individuals
confessed they face intimidation and feel fearful of engaging
politically, given the current political climate. A/S Fried
bluntly stated his grave concern about the potential for a
dangerous cycle, with repression leading to alienation and
possible radicalization.


5. (C) While sincerely thanking the Ambassador for the
courtesies the GoAJ had extended him in Baku, Fried cautioned
that his friendliness was not to be interpreted as a license
to disregard his democracy message. Fried highlighted recent
USG statements about the imposition of the state of emergency
in Georgia, noting our statements were extremely critical and
that the U.S. does not give President Saakashvili or any
friend a free pass.
RICE