AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT GIVES GREEN LIGHT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001140

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CARC, DAS BRYZA
USTRANSCOM FOR POLAD
USEUCOM FOR JHOLBROOK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF AJ IZ TX KZ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT GIVES GREEN LIGHT FOR
TRANSIT OF COALITION SUPPLIES OVERLAND TO AFGHANISTAN

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
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1. (C) Commander USTRANSCOM General Duncan McNabb and
Ambassador Derse met Azerbaijani President Aliyev in Baku on
November 17 to discuss proposed overland transport of
supplies through Azerbaijan to U.S. and Coalition forces in
Afghanistan. The President responded enthusiastically to the
concept as it supports his vision of Azerbaijan becoming a
regional distribution node. The President also welcomed the
opportunity for transshipment of commercial goods using
existing commercial transportation networks and local
procurement of sustainment supplies. End Summary.

Good Partnership
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2. (C) General McNabb opened the meeting by stating this was
his second visit to Baku, the first being in 1992 when he
dropped off a load of medical supplies, and commented how the
city had changed since then. He further thanked the
president for Azerbaijan,s support in Iraq and Afghanistan,
commenting on the USG's deep appreciation for and the value
of the overflight clearance the U.S. enjoys. President
Aliyev replied that we have a "good partnership, as it should
be between partners . . . a broad and successful
relationship.' He went on to say that our energy partnership
has opened the door and laid the foundation for his vision of
a regional transportation route.

Azerbaijan: The New Hub
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3. (C) President Aliyev discussed his vision for Azerbaijan
ascending as a regional leader, especially in the realm of
transportation. "We created opportunities in the field of
energy, and now we see others joining us." The same is true
with transportation . . . if the U.S. will join with us,
others will come. We will connect with the eastern Caspian
(countries) and they will come when there is something here
to come to." President Aliyev went on to discuss his new
infrastructure investment. "We,re buying tankers, ferries,
ports, airports, highways, railways . . . we,re 80 percent
complete and the missing parts will come in the next two
years. Now Azerbaijan has more to offer."


4. (C) Expanding on recent Baku Energy Summit success, he
conveyed his expectation for future Kazakhstani use of the
southern energy corridor. "I am almost sure of Kazakh
support. Without our route, they cannot increase
production." He said this is a good example of the type of
cooperation he was speaking of, because Kazakhstan joined the
operation because of the Azerbaijani ports. He highlighted
the important agreement Azerbaijan had signed with Kazakhstan
the previous week at the Summit on a joint Caspian
transportation system. "The eastern Caspian nations become
more courageous as they see success build upon success."

Northern Distribution Network
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5. (C) The General explained that his primary purpose in
coming to Baku was to discuss Azerbaijan's potential as a
link in a Northern Distribution Network (NDN) to Afghanistan.
The United States is seeking to maximize the number of
available routes there for sustainment items, i.e. food and
construction materials, while delivering most lethal items by
air. At this, the President surprised the group by saying
that "If you want to take military items too, we don,t mind."


6. (C) General McNabb mentioned the possibility of procuring
some necessary items locally, and to that end mentioned that
the Defense Logistics Agency expected to send a
representative in December to survey the market. Keying off
this opportunity the President enumerated high quality local
commodities which Azerbaijan can produce in excess of its own
requirements (many kinds of produce, sugar, butter, tea,

cheese, dry milk, etc.). He assured General McNabb of his
support for the DLA survey.

Comment
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7. (C) General McNabb's meeting with the President was
successful in that it was clear that USTRANSCOM,s Northern
Distribution Network initiative will be well received in
Azerbaijan and has Presidential support. Echoing the
Presdeint, the Foreign and Defense Ministers also welcomed
overland trasnport through Azerbaijan in their meetigns wiht
McNabb (septels). Ambassador Derse noted in subsequent
meetings with the President and Foreign Minister that based
on the GOAJ's positive reception of TRANSCOM proposal,
USTRANSCOM would begin immediately the shipment of commercial
cargo across Azerbaijan to Afghanistan. The President and
Foreign Minister welcomed this decision and underscored their
interest in a DLA visit re local procurement.


8. (C) Given these discussions, we are comfortable with
TRANSCOM proceeding immediately with shipments and a DLA
visit. Embassy recommends that General McNabb consider
writing a letter to President Aliyev to thank him for a
productive visit, Azerbaijan's cooperation, to state that
transhipments will begin and DLA will soon send a
representative to look into local procurement.


9. (U) General McNabb cleared this cable.
DERSE