AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTIONS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001013 SIPDIS FOR EUR/CARC FOR DAS MATT BRYZA; DRL FOR A/S DAVID KRAMER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTIONS, JOURNALISTS WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador reviewed with President Aliyev's International Relations Advisor Novruz Mammadov USG comments on Azerbaijan's October 15 presidential election and shared observations on the assessment of the elections by international observers. The U.S. will continue to support a robust civil society in Azerbaijan, she said, and supports EMC's efforts to appeal its de-registration. The three jailed journalists in Azerbaijan should be released immediately; the GOAJ must deal with reports that one journalist has been beaten in jail promptly and adequately. Mammadov accepted some irregularities in the election, but maintained that the process continues to improve. He would encourage the President to pardon the three journalists. Some elements of the Presidential Administration, he said, reacted negatively to domestic and international assessments, and still struggle to understand the independence of NGOs and the international press. Mammadov welcomed the upcoming visit of A/S David Kramer and pledged to renew efforts to bolster bilateral cooperative efforts on a range of issues, including democracy and human rights. End Summary Azerbaijan Reaffirms Western Orientation -------------- ¶2. (C) Foreign Policy Chief Novruz Mammadov welcomed Ambassador Derse to the Presidential Administration October 21 for a first meeting after the October 15 presidential election. Highlighting the importance of the bilateral partnership Mammadov called the meeting an excellent opportunity for the United States and Azerbaijan to renew cooperative efforts, including the need to address regional security challenges in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Georgia. Under President Aliyev's leadership, Mammadov said, Azerbaijan remains committed to continue its cooperation with the West and integrate with the Trans-Atlantic community. "We have embarked on a path, and will not turn back," he underscored. Press Outreach on Azerbaijan's Elections -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador reviewed with Mammadov the USG's official response to the presidential election -- comments by Department Spokesman Sean McCormack and follow-on comments by DAS Matt Bryza. She noted that the local press would likely call on her for additional comment, and said that her response would reflect the Washington guidance. This guidance, she said, drew upon the initial assessment of the International Election Observation Mission coordinated by OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, with which the USG largely agreed. Mammadov, in turn, expressed appreciation for the Deputy Secretary's call to President Aliyev last week. USG Views on Election in Line with ODIHR Assessment -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador noted that the technical conduct of the election had improved, but in the overall process problems remained. There was widespread misunderstanding of procedures for counting votes, particularly in Sumgayit, Lankaran and Nakhchivan, and this was clearly an area in which the international community could assist with training in the run-up to the 2010 municipal elections. Of greater concern over the longer term were continuing constraints in the broader pre-election environment, especially in terms of media and freedom of assembly. Mammadov, in turn, acknowledged "irregularities," maintaining that Azerbaijan had achieved improvements. He recognized various assessments of the election and admitted follow-up work to do. The Ambassador noted that some authorities had publicly rejected criticisms of the election, and suggested that Azerbaijan's leadership would be wiser to acknowledge in the public sphere areas in which further improvement is necessary and pledge to continue work to address these issues. Mammadov encouraged the Ambassador to make these points with Head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, Presidential BAKU 00001013 002 OF 003 Administration Social Policy Director Ali Hasanov and President Aliyev. USG Supports Domestic Monitors -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador said that the parallel vote tabulation, which was conducted by members of the Election Monitoring Center (and funded by NDI, through a USAID grant) had been a success, despite last-minute glitches. EMC, she said, would continue to appeal its de-registration and annulment. The United States, in line with President Aliyev's comments to President Bush in 2006 that Azerbaijan is committed to developing as a modern democracy and to continued cooperation with the US in Azerbaijan's process of democratization and political reform, will continue to support development of a robust civil society and democratic reforms in Azerbaijan. Mammadov said that some elements within the Presidential Administration had seized upon EMC's preliminary reports and viewed them as a USG-directed attempt "to tarnish the image of Azerbaijan." Hence, the Presidential Administration's leadership had questioned until the last minute the role of EMC in the election process. The Ambassador rejected that characterization. She endorsed the important role of domestic election observers and noted that meetings with Azerbaijan's leadership, including the Presidential Administration, must be conducted in a constructive, trustful manner, reflecting a cooperative relationship. Azerbaijan Must Address Jailed Journalists -------------- ¶6. (C) Following the inauguration, the United States and Azerbaijan have a broad range of issues, including security cooperation and energy, to discuss. Human rights and democracy will remain critical, integral parts of the overall relationship. The Ambassador called for the immediate release of the three jailed journalists, and expressed deep concern about reports earlier that morning that one of those journalists, Mirze Sakit, had been beaten in prison in recent days. This unfortunate event, she said, damages the image of Azerbaijan and must be dealt with promptly. Mammadov said that he was aware of the reports and pledged to get more details. He promised to urge the President to pardon the journalists, "perhaps after the inauguration." The Ambassador noted that A/S David Kramer would visit Azerbaijan November 11-12 and would request a meeting with the President. Mammadov strongly welcomed the visit. ¶7. (C) Mammadov also noted that international press reports about the election had come to the attention of some elements in the Presidential Administration, and concerns had been expressed about content. The Ambassador re-emphasized that the U.S. press is independent, and writes stories on international events without State Department guidance or clearance. If Azerbaijan has concerns about the international press, she said, then Azerbaijan's leaders should work harder to get out the country's message. She recommended that President Aliyev meet with international -- as well as domestic -- journalists on a more regular basis (a point with which Mammadov concurred and said should be raised directly with the President). Deliberate misinformation about the U.S. and international press, she said, is being fed by some quarters of the government to the leadership. This type of activity must stop, as its aim is to undermine the relationship. ¶8. (C) Comment: Mammadov seems to understand the role of international observers and the need for Azerbaijan to welcome their participation and heed their advice. With domestic observers, the case is less clear, but Mammadov appears to recognize the line of division between the U.S. Government and U.S. Embassy supported programs, like the NDI grant that supported EMC. Moreover, Mammadov seems to understand the role and behavior of the international press corps. Still, his remarkably open acknowledgement that some elements of the Presidential Administration either do not understand these processes or seek to manipulate events and the views of the President with the goal of undermining BAKU 00001013 003 OF 003 Azerbaijan's cooperation with the West is disturbing. We should not underestimate the influence of those around Aliyev who are not committed to Azerbaijan's western future orientation. Mammedov's advice that we regularly reinforce the message of cooperation and partnership up the chain to the President is sound. ¶9. (C) We will continue to urge the Presidential Administration to make a strong case to the President to pardon the three journalists sooner rather than later, and ask that Washington officials in contact with GOAJ officials do the same. DERSE