AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES (ANOTHER) TURKMEN DIP NOTE RE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000721 SIPDIS EUR FOR DAS BRYZA; EEB FOR STEVEN MANN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL AJ TU TX SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES (ANOTHER) TURKMEN DIP NOTE RE ACG FIELD REF: BAKU 719 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) In a July 16 meeting, GOAJ MFA Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Shamil Aleskerov showed Eurasian Energy Coordinator Ambassador Steve Mann a diplomatic note recently received from the Government of Turkmenistan. The diplomatic note said that the Turkmen government expressed a decisive protest against the unlawful Azerbaijani activities in the Osman and Omar offshore fields, and reserved the right to appeal to international structures and arbitration entities in this regard. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Aleskerov said that Azerbaijan has been receiving similar diplomatic notes from Azerbaijan for at least nine years, but, echoing July 14 comments made by President Aliyev to Special Envoy Gray, he found the timing of this latest note confusing, coming as it did against the backdrop of improved bilateral relations. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: "Osman and Omar" are the GOTX terms for parts of the ACG field currently being developed by the AIOC Consortium. Given that the GOTX has not relinquished its claims on this field, it is not surprising that it continues to send diplomatic notes in this regard. END COMMENT. ¶4. (U) This cable has been cleared by Ambassador Mann. DERSE