PRESIDENT ALIYEV TELLS BENS HE SEEKS GREATER US

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001039 SIPDIS STATE FOR DAS MATTHEW BRYZA, EUR/CARC; EUCOM FOR JHOLBROOK E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL AJ AM SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ALIYEV TELLS BENS HE SEEKS GREATER US SUPPORT Classified By: Ambassador Anne Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Just ahead of his inauguration, President Aliyev told visiting U.S. business executives that Azerbaijan is a force for stability in an insecure neighborhood. During his second administration, Nagorno-Karabakh will remain "issue number one." By occupying Azerbaijan's territories, Armenia is violating international law. Azerbaijan continues to support Tbilisi, even though Saakashvili "damaged our interests." Azerbaijan will not turn its back on its previous decision to re-orient its foreign policy toward the West, and will go "as far as possible" on security cooperation. Baku must "balance" its interests with others in the neighborhood. Given new regional uncertainties, "this is a moment of truth for assessment and changes in (US) policy" to make a clear distinction between those who are friends of the US in the region and those who are not. Azerbaijan seeks "new mechanisms" to increase its security, and "will go as far as possible;" it is up to the US to determine how far. End Summary ¶2. (C) President Aliyev met October 23 with the Business Executives for National Security and Deputy EUCOM Commander VADM Richard Gallagher to discuss Azerbaijan's foreign policy priorities in the wake of the President's October 15 re-election. Azerbaijan a Source of Stability in Insecure Neighborhood -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) President Aliyev noted that in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia conflict the South Caucasus region is getting more attention in the West, and highlighted his view that, contrary to Armenia and Georgia, Azerbaijan is a force for stability in the region. Azerbaijan, he said, remains "stable and secure," with the region's leading economy. Azerbaijan continues to initiate regional energy projects and is working to promote non-energy sectors, such as agriculture, telecommunications and transportation. Economic reforms have led to new jobs, social protections and poverty reduction. A windfall of revenues from energy exports, the President said, is bringing prosperity and stability, in contrast to some other resource-rich states. Nagorno-Karabakh Still Number One Issue -------------- ¶4. (C) Nonetheless, Nagorno-Karabakh remains "issue number one" in Azerbaijan, the President said. The Russian invasion of Georgia brought light of this to the international community, which is acting to address the conflict. Unfortunately, the President said, the "rmenian position is in violation of internationa law, and Yerevan is doing nothing constructive. The situation is fragile, as there are no intenational peacekeepers there. Armenia still occupes territories surrounding NK and has shown no sigs of withdraw. "Even the Russians pulled away fom the buffer zones" near South Ossetia and Abkhazia under strong internal pressure, Aliyev said. "But nobody tells the Armenians to withdraw" from Azerbaijan's territories. An agreement may be possible in the current situation, but there is a need for "more active international involvement," he urged. ¶5. (C) Armenia would have much to gain from a settlement, the President reported. Yerevan would gain access to international markets through open borders and could "cooperate in international projects" with Azerbaijan. This is only possible, though, if Armenia withdraws from the occupied territories. The international community must pay more attention to this, Aliyev said. Following an agreement, the President said, international peacekeepers -- non-Russians -- could be a part of the process. Political and/or security guarantees, however, would be preferred. Azerbaijan Continues to Support Georgia -------------- ¶6. (C) Azerbaijan has supported Tbilisi throughout the fall, the President said, even as Saakashvili "caused a lot of problems for himself and us." The Georgians "damaged our interests, our plans," Aliyev said. Now the country is BAKU 00001039 002 OF 003 "destabilized," with the East-West corridor threatened. Nonetheless, Azerbaijan will continue to support Tbilisi. This is unlike Armenia, the President said, which showed support this fall for the breakaway territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The United States, he said, should take notice of this. ¶7. (C) President Aliyev added his common line -- that when push comes to shove, Georgia has the West, Armenia has Russia, but Azerbaijan has no one. During the height of the crisis in Georgia, he noted, the West "sent ships to the Black Sea." For NK, "NATO has done nothing." Azerbaijan, thus, "remains in the middle," geographically significant, with "a big role to play as a stabilizing factor." Azerbaijan to Continue to Move Toward West -------------- ¶8. (C) Azerbaijan made a strategic decision in the 1990s to re-orient itself to the West. This was a difficult decision, as it runs counter to "historical or natural" tendencies. Azerbaijan will not reverse this decision. Responding to a question on security cooperation with the United States, the President said that Washington must determine the level and extent of cooperation. Noting that Azerbaijan has "proven" itself "a partner and true friend, it is not just words," Aliyev said "we can go in our relations as far as possible." Relationship with Russia, Security -------------- ¶9. (C) Azerbaijan must manage its relationships with neighbors responsibly and exercises a degree of "balance" with its large neighbor to the north, Aliyev said. "We cannot change geography." The President said that Azerbaijan "does not feel immediate threats" from Russia, "but what happens next? No one knows." Much depends, he said, on how the situation in Georgia is resolved. If the recognition of Georgia's separatist territories and the "de facto occupation" by Russia continues, there may be new moves by Russia elsewhere in the region. ¶10. (C) And Azerbaijan has "no umbrella," Aliyev continued. Azerbaijan is not a member of NATO or the EU, and neither organization is likely to invite Azerbaijan to join. "We are in the middle of the fight, with a key location, rich energy resources -- and control here means control of Central Asian resources." Moreover, Azerbaijan now plays an important role as a regional stabilizer. The new realities in the region "should be taken into account in our relations with the US and there should be new mechanisms to feel ourselves safe," Aliyev told BENS. "Moment of Truth" -------------- ¶11. (C) Aliyev stated that the Russian invasion had forced everyone in the region to show their hands. Stating that "a friend in need is a friend indeed," he said only Ukraine and Azerbaijan had supported Georgia, Ukraine offering political support and Azerbaijan, tangible aid. Armenia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia had supported Russia's illegal invasion and occupation of Georgia. "The West's relations with Azerbaijan should not be the same as those who were against international law and supporting Russia," he said. If relations are the same, it is unjust. Azerbaijan hopes for "more distinction and more actions based on that new understanding." ¶12. (C) "This is a moment of truth for assessment and changes in policy, notwithstanding the (Armenian) lobby. A clear distinction needs to be made between those who are friends of the US in the region" and those who are not, Aliyev concluded. Armenia is a member of the CSTO, a strategic partner of Iran, supported the Russian attack on Georgia, but enjoys more support in the US than Azerbaijan, which offers "stability, an independent policy, energy." ¶13. (C) Comment: As always, President Aliyev gave an impressive overview of regional affairs, making a compelling case for Azerbaijan's interests and his interest in closer BAKU 00001039 003 OF 003 cooperation with the US with respect to resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh and enhancing Azerbaijan's security in light of new regional uncertainties. The President pressed the U.S. audience hard for more attention to the immediate liberation of the occupied territories surrounding NK, without specific mention of the Lachin corridor or the future status of the NK enclave. President Aliyev intends to continue support for Georgia, but shows frustration with the West's strong stand for Tbilisi while, in his opinion, Azerbaijan is "alone" and its support for US interests and potential as a stronger regional partner remain unrecognized. DERSE