NGO LEADERS DEBATE REFERENDUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000206

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: NGO LEADERS DEBATE REFERENDUM

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 25 the Ambassador held a
roundtable discussion with leaders of Azerbaijani NGOs and
youth groups. The discussion centered on the environment
surrounding the March 18 referendum on changes to the
constitution. The participants felt the public has little
information about the referendum, due to lack of coverage in
the media and little freedom to hold discussions on the
topic. Youth group representatives, in particular,
complained that government and opposition leaders do not
offer unifying ideas to inspire people, and that opposition
parties continue to be led by the same old faces. Youth
groups are particularly worried about how their
contemporaries are unengaged with their political process and
asked for more USG support for exchanges and other youth
oriented programs. END SUMMARY

Restricted Media Prevent Public Education on Referendum
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2. (C) Parviz Hashimli, the young leader of the Defense
Center of Civil and Political Rights, gave an overview of the
numerous problems he finds with the referendum. In general
there has been little information available to the public
about the numerous, complicated changes being made to the
constitution. There is no coverage of the changes on the TV,
and the pro-government newspapers distort information,
especially any statements by the opposition. Emin Huseynov
of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety agreed,
citing media monitoring he has done with the support of the
British Embassy. He added that TV news presents President
Aliyev as a "national leader" and the referendum is presented
in this light. Citing a theme heard often, he said the
referendum was a "lost opportunity" for Azerbaijan, as it
does not address other crucial national issues.

AJ Youth Unengaged* Need to reach out
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3. (C) Novella Jafaroglu of the Association for the
Protection of Women's Rights expanded the discussion to
problems NGOs face in Azerbaijan, particularly in the
regions. They would like to target youth groups and work on
education, but police harassment is likely. She believes the
closing of the Abu Bakr mosque and other attacks on religion
are driving young people towards religion, and it is possible
that this referendum, as an attack on democracy, could drive
young people to seek democracy.


4. (C) Vugar Salamli of Ol youth group countered that youth
are apathetic and not informed about the referendum. He
pointed out that many of the youth groups are trying to
coordinate their activities now, and this is something that
the donor community should support. Zaur Akbar of the Youth
Club Public Union agreed, stating that there are smart,
talented people in Azerbaijan's universities but they do not
have faith in the system and are unengaged. He believes
exchange programs are the best way to support these young
people and help them learn values.


5. (C) Vafa Jafarova of Dalga Youth Movement said that the
referendum has depressed everyone because it is impossible to
hold debates to discuss the issue. But she stated the bigger
issue is the lack of &ideas8 to inspire and unite people in
Azerbaijan. Neither the GOAJ nor the traditional opposition
parties offer any inspiration, or present ideas to unify the
nation or constituent groups. Young people find no
opportunity in Azerbaijan, and therefore they would rather be
abroad. She added that this lack of opportunity is also an
opening for religious groups to target young people. Sabuhi
Gafarov of the Azerbaijan Liberal Youth Association agreed
that Azerbaijan was at a dead end, and needed new leadership.
He complained that the same people, or families, have been
leading both the government and the opposition parties for
decades. Why, he asked, is the opposition accusing the
government of establishing a "monarchy", when the opposition
itself has been led by the same people since independence?
It's time for new leadership, he said.

COMMENT
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BAKU 00000206 002 OF 002




6. (C) A wide swath of the most active members of
Azerbaijan's civil society is clearly disappointed with the
referendum and consequently with the GOAJ. The restrictive
environment in the media and in freedom of assembly means
they have few outlets to express their thoughts. Most
striking, young people see little within the political
system, including the traditional opposition, to inspire
them, and therefore largely stay away from public life.
However, the moves among youth groups over the past year or
so to unify and organize, as one participant put it, with the
aim of coming up with affirmative plans and programs, is
positive. More active USG engagement with these young people
remains the most promising avenue to spread democratic
values, and there continue to be many young people seeking
support for this type of engagement.
DERSE