U/S BURNS' MEETING WITH AZERBAIJANI FM

S E C R E T STATE 166990

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' MEETING WITH AZERBAIJANI FM
MAMMADYAROV ON NOVEMBER 30 AT THE OSCE MINISTERIAL IN
MADRID


Classified By: Acting A/S Kurt Volker for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (S) Summary: Under Secretary Burns met with Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Mammadyrov on November 30 on the margins of
the OSCE Ministerial in Madrid. On Iran, Under Secretary
Burns pushed for Azerbaijani support of USG policy to deter
Iran,s nuclear power ambitions. On Nagorno-Karabakh, FM
Mammadyarov expressed his doubt the Armenian side would seek
a solution to the conflict in the next 3-5 years.
Mammadyarov also objected to NK de facto president
Sahakian,s travel to the U.S. U/S Burns noted the Basic
Principles on the Settlement of the NK Conflict that had been
presented to the two sides the previous day by the U.S.,
Russia and France should be given serious consideration,
while DAS Bryza noted that USG policy allowing NK residents
to travel with Armenian passports had not changed.
Mammadyarov asked for active U.S. support for a proposed
trans-Caspian gas pipeline, and noted Azerbaijan was making
progress in its talks with Turkmenistan on delimitation of
the Caspian seabed. On democratic reform, U/S Burns noted
there were new reports of media harassment and urged
Azerbaijan to honor its democratic reform commitments. End
summary.


2. (U) U.S. participants included U/S Burns, EUR DAS Bryza,
P staff Sumona Guha, and EUR/CARC Mike Carpenter (notetaker).
Azerbaijani participants included FM Elmar Mammadyarov and
Permanent Representative to the OSCE Ambassador Fuad
Ismayilov.


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Iran
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3. (S) U/S Burns told FM Mammadyarov the U.S. was looking
for a diplomatic solution with Iran but needed to keep the
pressure on. The U.S. would like to have a new UN Security
Council Resolution, and the Europeans were considering
sanctions. Burns asked for help in coordinating policy on
Iran and for information on Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed
Jalili. Mammadyarov noted Iranian President Ahmedinejad was
toughening his negotiating position to consolidate power at
home and noted the Iranians were more flexible in their talks
with Russia than with the U.S.


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Nagorno-Karabakh
--------------


4. (C) FM Mammadyarov told U/S Burns he was not optimistic
about the prospects for reaching an agreement on the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict.
Mammadyarov opined that Armenian President Kocharian and PM
Sarkisian were playing a game by continuing the negotiations
without real interest in a settlement. Mammadyarov noted he
did not think the Armenians would reach an agreement in the
next 3-5 years (i.e. during the first half of the next
presidential mandate),and said the Azerbaijani side would
have to "educate" the Armenian public about their national
interest in settling the conflict. The biggest obstacle to a
settlement was the Armenian diaspora. Mammadyarov indicated
Azerbaijan could afford to bide its time in settling the
conflict since its economy was growing. As evidence of its
growing strength, he cited the recently concluded deal to
export Azerbaijani gas through Turkey to Greece, and the
construction of a railroad from Azerbaijan to Turkey via
Georgia.


5. (C) On the substance of Basic Principles for the Peaceful
Settlement of the NK conflict presented to the two sides the
previous day by the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries,
Mammadyarov indicated the sticking point would remain the
status of the Lachin corridor between Armenia and NK. Rather
than focusing on the legalization of the corridor, the
Co-Chairs should concentrate on the practicalities of the
corridor,s functioning. DAS Bryza pushed back, arguing the
Co-Chairs, proposal did not put the status of the corridor
into question and that the Basic Principles offered
constructive solutions. U/S Burns also opined that the Basic
Principles were fair and balanced and now it was up to the
sides to demonstrate the political courage to reach an
agreement. Mammadyarov conceded an agreement was still a
possibility, though unlikely, in the next 6-12 months, and
praised the step-by-step approach to implementing any
eventual settlement.


6. (C) Mammadyarov ended the discussion of NK by objecting
to the issuance of a visa for NK de facto president Sahakian
to travel to the U.S. to fundraise for development projects
in NK. DAS Bryza noted USG policy on this issue had not
changed. Previous NK leaders had traveled to the U.S. on
Armenian passports, and the U.S. would not challenge the
Armenian government,s citizenship policy.


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Energy
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7. (C) U/S Burns and Mammadyarov cited the importance of
Azerabaijan,s emergence as an alternative source of gas
supply to Europe via the Turkey-Greece-Italy and Nabucco
pipelines. U/S Burns told Mammadyarov the transit of Turkmen
gas to Europe would be a major accomplishment for both
Azerbaijan and the U.S., and asked for his thoughts on how to
realize this goal. Mammadyarov replied that the Azerbaijani
Prime Minister had met with Turkmen President Berdimukhamedov
at the CIS summit in Dushanbe on October 5. Mammadyarov
indicated Berdimukhamedov was interested in exporting gas to
Europe but was fearful of Russian opposition. Mammadyarov
opined that U.S. backing was critical to achieving an
inter-connection between Turkmenistan,s offshore gas fields
and Azerbaijan,s gas export infrastructure, just as U.S.
support was instrumental to getting the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline running. Separately, he noted Azerbaijan was making
progress with Turkmenistan on delimitation of the Caspian
seabed, and welcomed DAS Bryza,s ongoing efforts in all
these areas.


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Democratic Reform
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8. (C) Mammadyarov confirmed that Azerbaijan will invite
OSCE,s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR) to monitor the Azerbaijani presidential elections in
October 2008. U/S Burns welcomed this decision and noted
Russian President Putin,s decision to create obstacles for
ODIHR in Russia belied his talk of democratic reform and
ultimately made Russia look bad. U/S Burns noted there were
still reports of harassment of journalists in Azerbaijan and
asked if the GOAJ was serious about addressing the problem,
which was a serious one. Mammadyarov argued for a
case-by-case discussion of the issue and against using an
accusatorial tone. He added he had met with OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti in
Madrid and would continue to engage on the issue of
democratic reform.
RICE