Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAKU390
2008-04-23 13:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN OPPOSES RUSSIAN MOVES TO UPGRADE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKB #0390 1141326 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 231326Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5208 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2792 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0300 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0925
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000390
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS GG RS AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN OPPOSES RUSSIAN MOVES TO UPGRADE
RELATIONS WITH ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: A. STATE 40673
B. BAKU 376
Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000390
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS GG RS AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN OPPOSES RUSSIAN MOVES TO UPGRADE
RELATIONS WITH ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: A. STATE 40673
B. BAKU 376
Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref a demarche to Foreign
Minister Mammadyarov during an April 22 meeting with visiting
Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs
Reuben Jeffery III (other topics septel). Mammadyarov
responded that Azerbaijan supports Georgia's territorial
integrity and opposes Russian moves to upgrade relations with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mammadyarov said that he had
instructed Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov to speak out
on this issue, and that Azerbaijan will support Georgian
efforts in the UN and the OSCE.
2. (U) On April 21, Azerbaijani MFA Spokesman Khazar Ibrahim
stated that "Azerbaijan supports the territorial integrity of
Georgia and condemns steps violating this principle."
Ibrahim also noted that the GUAM member states continue their
efforts to include a resolution on the GUAM states'
unresolved conflicts on the UN General Assembly agenda. He
commented that adoption of this UNGA resolution would support
the "just" position of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova on the
issue of territorial integrity.
3. (C) Comment: Following Kosovo's declaration of
independence, Azerbaijan and the other GUAM states have
launched a concerted effort to ensure that Kosovo will not
set a precedent for the GUAM states' unresolved conflicts.
Azerbaijan recently hosted a high-profile, international law
conference to make the case that territorial integrity should
trump self-determination in resolution of the GUAM conflicts
(ref b). We expect that Azerbaijan will work closely with
Georgia to build international opposition to Russian moves to
upgrade relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
DERSE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS GG RS AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN OPPOSES RUSSIAN MOVES TO UPGRADE
RELATIONS WITH ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: A. STATE 40673
B. BAKU 376
Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref a demarche to Foreign
Minister Mammadyarov during an April 22 meeting with visiting
Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs
Reuben Jeffery III (other topics septel). Mammadyarov
responded that Azerbaijan supports Georgia's territorial
integrity and opposes Russian moves to upgrade relations with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mammadyarov said that he had
instructed Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov to speak out
on this issue, and that Azerbaijan will support Georgian
efforts in the UN and the OSCE.
2. (U) On April 21, Azerbaijani MFA Spokesman Khazar Ibrahim
stated that "Azerbaijan supports the territorial integrity of
Georgia and condemns steps violating this principle."
Ibrahim also noted that the GUAM member states continue their
efforts to include a resolution on the GUAM states'
unresolved conflicts on the UN General Assembly agenda. He
commented that adoption of this UNGA resolution would support
the "just" position of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova on the
issue of territorial integrity.
3. (C) Comment: Following Kosovo's declaration of
independence, Azerbaijan and the other GUAM states have
launched a concerted effort to ensure that Kosovo will not
set a precedent for the GUAM states' unresolved conflicts.
Azerbaijan recently hosted a high-profile, international law
conference to make the case that territorial integrity should
trump self-determination in resolution of the GUAM conflicts
(ref b). We expect that Azerbaijan will work closely with
Georgia to build international opposition to Russian moves to
upgrade relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
DERSE