EFFORTS TO UNIFY THE WORLD AZERBAIJANIS CONGRESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000309 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL KDEM IR AJ SUBJECT: EFFORTS TO UNIFY THE WORLD AZERBAIJANIS CONGRESS ONGOING, BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN REF: 07 BAKU 1418 BAKU 00000309 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: DCM Donald Lu for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC) President Ghulamriza Sabri-Tabrizi characterized a recent Brussels meeting of the WAC Board of Directors to finalize details of the reunification of the Demokratik Dunya Azerbaijan Kongresi (the North America-based faction of the WAC led by Ahmad Obali which broke off from the WAC a number of years ago) and WAC as a "success." Tabrizi reported that his efforts continued to be hampered by persistent funding problems, but hinted that he may have tapped into new sources of support at a meeting in the religiously conservative Nardaran village. Tabrizi also complained of active interference from Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) officials, citing as evidence his exclusion from a recent Berlin meeting organized by the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad and recent contact with GOAJ officials, including Minister of Emergency Situations Heydarov. End Summary. WAC Unification Efforts Ongoing -------------- ¶2. (C) During a March 27 meeting with Iran Watcher, World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC) President Ghulamriza Sabri-Tabrizi reported that efforts to unify the WAC remained "a work in progress." Characterizing a February 2 meeting held in Brussels to finalize details associated with the reunification of the Demokratik Dunya Azerbaijan Kongresi or DDAK (the North America-based faction of the WAC led by Ahmad Obali which broke off from the WAC a number of years ago) and WAC as a "success," Tabrizi reported that the WAC's Board of Directors had voted 11-3 in favor of this decision. Despite continued opposition from former WAC President Javad Derakhti and his supporters, Tabrizi said reintegration of the DDAK into the WAC was "a done deal." ¶3. (C) Tabrizi confirmed that plans were underway to hold a joint congress in Brussels on May 28 to commemorate this achievement and make plans for future, joint activities. Tabrizi also said he had been appointed by the Board of Directors to lead a congress steering committee. Citing London's high cost of living and ease of access to European bodies and policy makers in Brussels, Tabrizi reported that he was seriously considering moving the WAC's headquarters from LONDON to Brussels. (The WAC headquarters has traditionally been collocated with the location of the current President, in Malmo, Sweden under Derakhti's leadership and LONDON under Tabrizi.) Funding Problems Persist... -------------- ¶4. (C) Tabrizi reported that the WAC continued to be plagued by funding shortfalls, a condition which he says "undermines his abilities." Tabrizi claims to have invested over fifty thousand pounds sterling in personal funds into the WAC's London operations and said that he had recently been forced to sell a piece of real estate in Azerbaijan in order to ensure that the WAC continued to have access to funds. Interestingly, Tabrizi reported that GunAz Television "had gotten funding," but failed to elaborate as to from whom or how much funding GunAz had been able to secure. ¶5. (C) Citing the importance of "spirituality and religion in our lives" (the first instance in nearly two years in which Tabrizi has ever uttered such words to Iran Watcher), Tabrizi reported that he had recently attended a meeting in the town of Nardaran (a religiously conservative town on the Absheron Peninsula home to an important Shia shrine) with more "pious and conservative" figures interested in supporting the WAC's cause. While not providing any additional details into the persons who called the meeting, Tabrizi reported that GunAz Television and DDAK Head Ahmad Obali and WAC member Sabir Rustamxanli were also in attendance. As do GOAJ Attempts to Influence... -------------- ¶6. (C) Concerning GOAJ attempts to influence his efforts, Tabrizi reported that he had recently been contacted by Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov and State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad Head Nazim Ibrahimov. Tabrizi said that Heydarov called to say BAKU 00000309 002.2 OF 002 that he was "interested in helping;" Tabrizi reportedly thanked Heydarov for his call but did not explore the topic with him any further. Tabrizi said that Ibrahimov had recently called to find out if Tabrizi "had any needs." Tabrizi said that he requested that Ibrahimov provide the WAC with funding for a vehicle and office space in Baku; Ibrahimov also reportedly asked Tabrizi "how much he needed for himself." Saying that Ibrahimov had yet to follow through on any pledges of financial support to the WAC, Tabrizi asserted that the GOAJ provided Ibrahimov with an annual budget to support diaspora activities in excess of USD five million, asking, "Where does it go?" ¶7. (C) Tabrizi alleged that Ibrahimov was "meddling" in the WAC's affairs, seeking to expand his influence in the diaspora community and to keep these groups ineffective and divided. Tabrizi attributed this to "business reasons," claiming that Ibrahimov and his brother had numerous business dealings in Azerbaijan and with Iran, primarily construction projects. As evidence of Ibrahimov's active efforts to undercut Tabrizi's influence, Tabrizi pointed to a March 27-28 meeting of "World Azeri and Turkish Diaspora Groups" in Berlin. Covered by the Azerbaijani press, this meeting was reportedly called for by Ibrahimov, supported by Azerbaijan's Embassy in Berlin, and intended to "unify the efforts of Azeris abroad." Claiming that Ibrahimov was targeting diaspora groups that could be "easily molded" and allow him to expand his influence, Tabrizi said he found it strange that the WAC was not invited, but former President Derakhti was. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The WAC Board of Director's February decision to approve unification of the WAC and DDAK should greatly aid the WAC's profile and standing, and ability to raise funds. Tabrizi's contact with notoriously conservative and rumored Iran-linked Nardaran community appears to be new. We will continue to closely monitor the WAC's financial health and signs of any possible foreign attempts to influence the organization. DERSE