AZERBAIJAN MFA COMMENTS ON SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ

S E C R E T BAKU 000064

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.4
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IZ AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN MFA COMMENTS ON SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ
DEPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

REF: SECSTATE 4865

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DERSE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (S) SUMMARY: Given Azerbaijani officials' repeated
statements that GOAJ troops will remain in Iraq "as long as
they are needed," we expect that the GOAJ will work with us
to find a way to keep troops in Iraq beyond the expiration of
the Chapter VII UNSCR. According to MFA Security Affairs
Director Galib Israfilov, Azerbaijan would appreciate
political/legal justification from the Iraqi Government,
preferably in the form of a letter to President Aliyev or
Foreign Minister Mammadyarov from the appropriate Government
of Iraq counterpart which (a) expressed appreciation for the
Azerbaijani contribution to Iraq's security to date; (b)
noted specific, concrete areas in which Azerbaijan has
contributed to Iraq's security; and (c) requested that, if
possible, Azerbaijani troop contributions continue after
UNSCR 1790 expires. Azerbaijan,s Parliament would need to
approve a continued troop presence but, with the appropriate
political justification, we do not expect the proposal to
face significant debate or opposition. Israfilov also
indicated that more positive media coverage of Azerbaijan,s
contributions in Iraq, as well as a visit to Iraq by DFM
Azimov, also would be helpful. Because the MFA's Security
Affairs Department has the lead on policy questions related
to coalition affairs we believe his view reflects broader
GOAJ policy. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) Azerbaijani officials - including President Aliyev -
continue to regularly affirm their intention to keep
Azerbaijani forces in Iraq "as long as they are needed," as a
"sign of political support" for the U.S. Based on this
political commitment, as well as the perceived boost that the
GOAJ believes its role in our global counterterrorism efforts
has given its political profile, we expect that the GOAJ will
keep its 151 troops in Iraq beyond the expiration of the
Chapter VII UNSCR. However, based on recent comments by
Deputy Foreign Minister Azimov (septel),we do not believe
the GOAJ is willing at this time to commit more troops to
Iraq. As DFM Azimov told the Ambassador, President Aliyev
seeks "wider and increased public attention from the U.S. on
our security cooperation" and "wants to be recognized as a
security contributor." Azimov suggested that President
Aliyev would need "this type of support" which would help
provide a solid public rationale to explain why Azerbaijan is
putting more troops into Iraq when others, like Poland, are
pulling them out, before making a decision on DoD DAS
Cagan,s request that Azerbaijan send more troops to Iraq.


3. (S) On January 22, poloff discussed reftel points with
Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Affairs
Department Director Galib Israfilov. (Israfilov is Azimov's
deputy, who oversees Azerbaijani support for Coalition
operations and political-military cooperation with the U.S.)
Israfilov thanked poloff for the briefing and asked for the
USG's assessment of the Iraqi forces and if they would be
ready to assume more security control. Drawing on reftel
talking point, poloff noted that while significant progress
has been made, it would be important for foreign troops to
remain in Iraq. Israfilov noted that he had heard in the
media that there was a possibility of Arab or other Muslim
countries joining the coalition. Poloff said that he had not
seen these reports, but said that the USG was working hard to
increase Arab political support in Iraq.


4. (S) Turning to the political and legal conditions that
would be necessary for Azerbaijan to continue in the
coalition, Israfilov noted that Azerbaijan participating as a
third-party to the U.S.-Iraq Defense Cooperation Agreement
(DCA) seemed sensible, but quickly noted there would have to
be a political justification which legitimized Azerbaijan's
continued presence in the coalition. To date this
political/legal justification had been various Security
Council resolutions, which were followed by annual
review/approval by the Azerbaijani Parliament. Israfilov
said that it would be very helpful, from a political
standpoint, if the Azerbaijani President or Foreign Minister
would receive a letter from the appropriate Government of
Iraq counterpart which (a) expressed appreciation for the
Azerbaijani contribution to Iraq's security to date; (b)
noted specific, concrete areas in which Azerbaijan has
contributed to Iraq's security; and (c) requested that, if
possible, Azerbaijani troop contributions continue after
UNSCR 1790 expires. Israfilov said that, in general,
positive media coverage, from the side of the Iraqi

government praising Azerbaijan, would be well-received in
Baku. Israfilov did not indicate any possibility that
Azerbaijan was considering leaving the coalition or reducing
its troop presence in Iraq.


5. (S) Israfilov also noted that the Azerbaijani Ministry
of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the political and legal
questions surrounding Azerbaijan's Iraq deployment.
(Comment: There is a fairly healthy rivalry between the
Azerbaijani MFA and Ministry of Defense on such international
security questions.) He noted that there had also been talk
about Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
traveling to Iraq to visit Azerbaijani troops and to see
their work first hand, and to talk with Iraqi government
officials. Israfilov indicated that Azimov would be
interested in the U.S. helping to arrange such a trip. We
will follow up on this possibility.
DERSE