EUR DAS BRYZA'S SEPTEMBER 18 MEETINGS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000923 SIPDIS FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG AJ SUBJECT: EUR DAS BRYZA'S SEPTEMBER 18 MEETINGS WITH AZERBAIJANI OFFICIALS Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told EUR DAS Matthew Bryza that Russia's invasion of Georgia altered regional security dynamics, and he was open to expanding U.S.-Azerbaijani security cooperation. Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev subsequently said that Azerbaijan faces new security problems since the Russian invasion of Georgia, while noting that Azerbaijan is the most stable country in the South Caucasus. Mehdiyev also pledged the presidential election will be free and democratic, and also responded favorably to DAS Bryza's suggestion to create a higher-level mechanism to expand our bilateral security cooperation. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Visiting EUR DAS Matthew Bryza and the Ambassador met separately with Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev on September 18. Defense Minister -------------- ¶3. (C) Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev said Russia's invasion of Georgia has changed regional security dynamics, agreeing with Bryza's suggestion to create a higher-level mechanism to expand our bilateral security cooperation. The specific mechanism, though, should be decided in a broader bilateral delegation format. The key for Azerbaijan is to be secure and confident that the U.S. "will be with us." Abiyev observed that Azerbaijan's actions -- especially in regards to energy pipelines and infrastructure projects -- demonstrate Baku's desire "to distance itself" from Russia, while maintaining good relations at the public level. On the Qabala radar station, Abiyev said the Russian Defense Minister told him that Russia wants to modernize the station, but biyev said he rebuffed Moscow until it pays its utstanding debts and Russia's 2012 lease expires. Abiyev remarked that Moscow wants Qabala because its coverage is broader than the new Russian radar station in Armavir. ¶4. (C) Abiyev said Russia's invasion of Georgia was "stupid" because it will create long-term security problems for Moscow. Abiyev observed that the Russian Defense Minister told him Russian special-forces were the key to Russian's operational successes in Georgia, including Russian maritime units. Abiyev said Russian forces were in the Roki tunnel on August 7 before the conflict began in Tskhinvali. Abiyev said Russia gave extra money to Russian soldiers who participated in operations against Georgia, including paying $40,000 to pilots for airstrikes against Georgia. Abiyev also said Russian units demolished parts of Tskhinvali to bolster their public case against Georgia. During the conflict, Armenia supported Russia; Russian planes attacked Georgia from bases within Armenia. Azerbaijani military units also were put on heightened alert along the line of contact, in case Russia or Armenia sought to escalate the conflict into NK. Abiyev also argued that Georgia needs Azerbaijan in order to be more secure. Presidential Administration Chief of Staff -------------- ¶5. (C) Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev said Russia's invasion of Georgia has caused major concern for the GOAJ. Mehdiyev said the stability of Azerbaijan was further threatened by the signing of the new friendship agreement between Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Mehdiyev stated that another threat to Azerbaijan's stability was the treaty of military assistance between Russia and Armenia. Citing Azerbaijan as the only stable country in the South Caucasus, Mehdiyev said Azerbaijan was an important and reliable country for the United States. Mehdiyev agreed to consider Bryza's suggestion to create a higher-level mechanism to expand our bilateral security cooperation and to discuss it within the GOAJ. Presidential Election: Equal Conditions, Despite Boycotts -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Mehdiyev assured Bryza that the elections would be fair and democratic. He cited the equal conditions for success given to each candidate. For example, every week, all candidates were given three hours of television time and three hours of radio time to explain their platform. Mehdiyev said the government would not allow any violations of the law with regards to the election process. ¶7. (C) The government fears that the parties that boycotted the election might attempt to manipulate the situation so the international organizations and embassies believed that the election was not free and fair. Furthermore, Mehdiyev contended that the reason the "radical parties" were boycotting the election was because they did not have the necessary support to succeed. Instead of losing face, the "radical parties" chose to boycott the election and may potentially manipulate it to give the appearance of unfairness. ¶8. (SBU) DAS Bryza did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. DERSE