AZERBAIJAN ADAMANT ON PUSHING RESOLUTION ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000218 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA AJ AM SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN ADAMANT ON PUSHING RESOLUTION ON OCCUPIED TERRITORIES TO VOTE REF: STATE 21209 ¶1. (U) This is an action request; see para 7. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: On March 6, Ambassador Wolff joined by Minsk Group co-chairs France and Russia gave Azerbaijani Permrep Mehdiyev our views on Azerbaijan's draft General Assembly resolution on "The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan." Wolff said we understand Azerbaijan likely has enough votes, but the resolution will not enjoy U.S. support and will be unhelpful to settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. France and Russia both fully agreed, but Mehdiyev expressed surprise that co-chairs could not support the resolution, asking that they reconsider and saying a "critical point" had been reached and Azerbaijani President Aliyev had decided the resolution should be pushed to a vote. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) On March 6 Ambassador Wolff met in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs' format with Azerbaijani Permrep Mehdiyev to register our views on Azerbaijan's draft resolution on "The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan." Drawing on points in reftel, Ambassador Wolff stated support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, but said the solution to Nagorno Karabakh is negotiations and Azerbaijan's resolution being pursued outside the Minsk Group framework is counterproductive. Wolff said we understand Azerbaijan likely has enough votes, but the resolution would not have U.S. support and asked that Azerbaijan reconsider. Wolff expressed willingness to seek a more consensual approach through adjustment of the text. ¶4. (SBU) French Charge d'Affaires Lacroix concurred and added that Azerbaijan's resolution could seriously undermine the Minsk Group. He warned that the GA will be divided, which could be unhelpful for Azerbaijan as it would imply division vis-a-vis support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Lacroix also supported efforts to reach a consensual text. Russian Deputy Permrep Shcherbak expressed complete agreement, but did not offer to support textual revisions. ¶5. (SBU) Azerbaijani Permrep Mehdiyev responded with feigned surprise that Minsk Group co-chairs will not support the text, but promised to report to Baku the co-chairs' requests for reconsideration. Mehdiyev said he saw nothing in the text contradictory to what the Minsk Group has said before, arguing that the co-chairs should support Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and that withdrawal of Armenian forces and return of refugees are points on the table in Minsk Group discussions. Mehdiyev claimed Azerbaijan had met with approximately two-thirds of member states and almost all support the text. Mehdiyev insisted that it is the co-chairs who should reconsider and support Azerbaijan's text. He also protested that Russia had said Kosovo's declaration of independence could be a precedent and alleged the U.S. had made no statement saying Kosovo was not a precedent for Nagorno-Karabakh. ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Wolff reiterated that it would be very unfortunate if Azerbaijan forces a vote on a resolution the U.S. and other co-chairs cannot support. France and Russia strongly supported this. Mehdiyev responded that a decision had been made by President Aliyev and Azerbaijan's government and a "critical point" had already been reached. ¶7. (SBU) After the meeting, co-chairs agreed, at the suggestion of Russia, to try to reach a common voting position by Monday. USUN requests Department follow up with co-chair capitals to develop a joint position on Monday on whether to vote against or abstain on Azerbaijan's resolution and whether the co-chairs should make a joint statement following the vote. KHALILZAD