BBG VISIT TO BAKU TO SUPPORT USG BROADCASTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAKU 001153 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ SUBJECT: BBG VISIT TO BAKU TO SUPPORT USG BROADCASTERS REF: BAKU 1062 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 3 a delegation from the Broadcasting Board of Governors and Radio free Europe/Radio Liberty visited Baku to discuss the GOAJ's possible removal of Voice of America and Radio Liberty broadcasts from national frequencies. The delegation met with the chairman of the National Television and Radio Council and the Head of the Presidential Administration. After the meetings, the delegation was cautiously optimistic that the GOAJ would grant a one year extension of the radio stations' licenses while the USG and the GOAJ negotiated a way forward. It is clear that the seriousness with which the USG treats this issue has reached the GOAJ. It remains possible, however, that the GOAJ will make a decision on December 25 to close the stations, believing (wrongly) that between the holidays and the change of administration, the USG will not take serious action. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) On December 3 Doug Boynton and Enver Safir of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and Julia Ragona of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) visited Baku to discuss the continuation of broadcasts of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Liberty (RL) on FM frequencies and national television in Azerbaijan. On October 31 the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC) announced that these broadcasts and the BBC programming would, because of legal restrictions on foreign broadcasters, be taken off the public frequencies by the new year (reftel). NTRC REPEATS DEMANDS FOR INTER-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Boynton began the meeting by explaining to Maharramli that he was surprised by the announcement that VOAand RL were not in compliance with the law, as Mharramli had assured them repeatedly after the 206 discussions that led to designating 101.7 FM as the home of VOA/RL that everything was fine. Maharramli replied that he remembered all of the meetings Boynton referred to and agreed with what Boynton said. He further explained, however, that before the NTRC was created in 2003, there was chaos in the media environment. Since then the NTRC has slowly tried to implement the law. First they closed Turkish and Russian television stations, then foreign radio stations including French radio. (Note: In a separate conversation Embassy official learned that the French radio left of its own accord due to financial problems. End Note.) Maharramli claimed that a special exception was made for VOA, RL, and BBC due to Azerbaijan's special relationship with the U.S. and the U.K. but nevertheless their ownership of FM licenses was against the law, and now had to be solved. ¶4. (C) Boynton asked why the NTRC had throughout August, September and October told the BBG, RL management, and the Embassy that the licenses would be renewed. Maharramli replied that he did not want to raise the issue before Azerbaijan's presidential election, as he did not want to see it become a political issue. He complained that international organizations complain about every step the NTRC takes and connects it to political issues, and these international statements only sharpen his position. Azerbaijan is in a sensitive region, and the law had to take this into account. However, Maharramli then stated that Azerbaijan has good cooperation with the U.S. and perhaps there could be a special agreement. ¶5. (C) Public Affairs Officer Davidson then explained that the reason BBG is in Baku is that Azerbaijan's leadership has asked to find a legal, technical solution to this problem. It takes time to do these negotiations, and therefore VOA and RL need an extension of their licenses while the two governments negotiate. Maharramli then offered to defer the NTRC's decision for one to two months. Boynton replied that they would be happy to negotiate, but need more than 30-60 days. After a long diatribe about the independence of the NTRC and his inability to make a decision for the whole Council, he asked if one year would be enough time. The delegation agreed that this would be a good start. Maharramli stated that the NTRC would take its final decision on December 25. BAKU 00001153 002 OF 003 MEHDIYEV HOPES FOR A SOLUTION BUT NO PROMISES -------------- ¶6. (C) The delegation and the Ambassador then met with head of Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev. Other presidential advisors Ali Hasanov, Shahin Aliyev, Novruz Mammadov, and Fuad Alasgarov also attended the meeting. Mehdiyev began the meeting with a long description of Azerbaijan's history, detailing the instability of the early 1990s and Heydar Aliyev's role in bringing stability to the country. He also noted the destabilizing influences coming from Azerbaijan's neighbors, particularly religious influences from Iran and some Arab states. Therefore Mehdiyev says that the GOAJ is trying to unite and mobilize people to preserve stability, and that people need positive information to have confidence in the future of the country. ¶7. (C) Mehdiyev then stated that he knew the purpose of the delegation's visit to Azerbaijan. The Parliament of Azerbaijan passed a law in 2002 that prevents the use of national frequencies by foreign broadcasters, and this law will not change. Echoing the NTRC's public statements, he said the issue could be resolved by broadcasting via cable, internet, or satellite. He then stated, however, that he can hear the acute sense of discontent from the U.S. on this issue, and they need to find a way to resolve the problem. ¶8. (C) Boynton replied that the BBG respects Azerbaijani law, and until October 31 believed the broadcasts were in full compliance with the law, as the NTRC had told them they were. He is optimistic after talking with the NTRC that the broadcasts will continue while the governments work on an agreement. Boynton told Mehdiyev that he believes that the broadcasts provide a value in return for their use of a national resource. ¶9. (C) Mehdiyev replied that the U.S. is a strategic partner and a friend to Azerbaijan, and he is interested in deepening relations with the U.S. Iran, however, has a special TV channel that broadcasts into Azerbaijan with a focus on news about Azerbaijan, but twists the news to be provocative. This concerns the GOAJ seriously because Iran believes that the 1828 treaty of Turkmenchai is no longer valid, and Azerbaijan should join the Iranian state. VOA and RL are not at this level, and he believes that the average Azerbaijani citizen can benefit from learning about the U.S. and Europe. It is completely unacceptable, however, to broadcast information that is geared to shattering the stability of Azerbaijan. Mehdiyev then proposed that, given that the law will not change, negotiations can be held. He designated Ali Hasanov as the lead in these negotiations, with Shahin Aliyev's advice on legal issues. ¶10. (C) Boynton agreed that Azerbaijan's law should be respected and that he looked forward to working with Hasanov again on an agreement. Mehdiyev replied that if the law is respected, then there will be no problem. He will do what he can to see the delegation's hopes realized, and want the radio stations to be good friends of Azerbaijan. COMMENT -------------- ¶11. (C) After the series of meetings on this topic, the GOAJ clearly has received the message that the banning of these radio stations will be a major impediment to deepening relations with the U.S. Both Maharramli and Mehdiyev appear open to working on a solution, although neither promised concretely an extension of licenses for the radio stations. Scheduling the NTRC's decision for Christmas Day, however, suggests the GOAJ may be trying to take a negative step while the USG is closed for holidays and the Administration is in transition. Furthermore, Mehdiyev's statement comparing RL and VOA to Iranian television indicates that the GOAJ may try to exercise influence with respect to content of these broadcasts during further negotiations. END COMMENT. NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶12. (C) The Embassy and BBG have agreed on a number of next steps in advance of the NTRC's late December decision: BAKU 00001153 003 OF 003 --BBG will write a letter to the NTRC outlining the need for a one year extension of the licenses in order to work on an intergovernmental agreement. --The Ambassador delivered these same points to Presidential Advisor on Foreign Relations Novruz Mammadov in a subsequent meeting (septel). --Deputy Chief of Mission and PAO will meet with Presidential Apparat Social Policy Chief Ali Hasanov to discuss these same points. -- Once the NTRC has extended the license or postponed a decision on the matter, BBG and Embassy will schedule the first discussions, mostly likely in the late January timeframe. ¶13. (C) Consistent with President Aliyev's repeated requests that we not politicize the issue, we've have treated it in our public comments as legal/technical matter that the USG and GOAJ are committed to resolve through an inter-governmental agreement, as provided in the Azerbaijani law. In every private conversation, however, we have left our interlocutors in no doubt that the matter is inherently political and potentially explosive if mishandled by the GOAJ -- since it is a negative step on media freedom, one of the most sensitive, long-standing issues in our bilateral discussion on democracy, and one targeted at U.S. stations funded by Congress. ¶14. (C) We believe that there is still debate ongoing in the GOAJ on the appropriate GOAJ posture on this issue, with some strong voices arguing for action to emasculate VOA and RFE/RL as a source of independent news here. We need therefore to continue to strongly deliver the message about what this would mean for our relations as the NTRC decision approaches, in Baku and in Washington. We recommend that CARC Director Baxter Hunt call in Ambassador Aliyev to follow up on his recent trip to Baku to underscore it, as we will in conversations here in coming weeks. DERSE