Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU299
2009-04-14 04:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES SUCCESSFUL NATO

Tags:  AJ NATO PREL RO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8813
RR RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHKB #0299 1040455
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140455Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1049
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0890
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1301
UNCLAS BAKU 000299 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AJ NATO PREL RO
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES SUCCESSFUL NATO
EVENT

UNCLAS BAKU 000299

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AJ NATO PREL RO
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES SUCCESSFUL NATO
EVENT


1. Summary. Ambassador Derse was a featured speaker at a
one-day conference organized by the Romanian Embassy entitled
"NATO at 60 Years, an Alliance at Full Political Maturity,"
which the Romanians organized in their new capacity as NATO
contact point embassy in Baku. The well-attended conference
also featured remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov,
NATO Assistant SYG for Public Diplomacy Jean-Francois Bureau,
the Ambassadors of Poland and Romania, the Deputy Minister of
Emergency Situations and the NATO Liaison Officer for the
South Caucasus Zbigniew Rybacki. End Summary.


2. Originally the conference was to feature speeches by
Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu and his
Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. Diaconescu
canceled his trip, due to the Moldovan situation; and
Mammadyarov was needed for the visit the same day of
Ukrainian President Yushchenko, and so their speeches were
delivered by Romanian Ambassador Ureche and Deputy Minister
Azimov.


3. Headlining the conference, Ureche delivered his Minister's
remarks, which highlighted Romania's dedication to the
Euro-Atlantic partnership and to expanding that partnership
to the "wider Black Sea region," including Azerbaijan. He
cited specific examples of bilateral cooperation between the
two countries, including an Alliance-sponsored scientific
collaboration between Romanian and Azerbaijani institutes on
biosafety and food security. He also underlined Romania's
interest in having NATO take a more active role on energy
security, and linked this to his country's support of White
Stream. The Romanian MFA Director for Security Issues,
Daniel Ionita, would follow later with more detailed remarks
on the concept of the wider Black Sea area.


4. Deputy Minister Azimov told the conference that membership
for Azerbaijan is not a realistic option for the moment, but
partnership is a level all its own; with formal,
institutionalized relations between the Alliance and its
partners. Partnership involves "political unity, legal
harmony and practical interoperability." Azimov said
Azerbaijan is considering increased non-military (technical
assistance and training) to the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
He urged the Alliance not to let PfP become "stationary,"
pointing out that the situation today is very different from
15 years ago when Azerbaijan associated itself to PfP. In
this vein he asked rhetorically how fair it is that Article 5
offers unconditional guarantees of security to NATO members
who have pulled ou of Afghanistan but makes no offer of
protection o partner states that are actively involved.

5.Ambassador Derse gave a well-received and widely cvered
address that emphasized the commonality ofdemocratic values
among NATO members and partner, and the catalytic effect
that association with NATO has in partner countries in terms
of encouraging military modernization, reform, and
accountability of the armed forces to civilian political
leaders. Ambassador also praised Azerbaijan's strategic
decision to orient itself toward Euro-Atlantic structures and
the professionalism of Azerbaijan's contributions to NATO
missions.


6. Comment. The Romanian Embassy has gotten off to an
impressive start as NATO contact point embassy, bringing
energy and visibility to the role that had been lacking for
some time. In spite of Minister Diaconescu's absence, the
event was well-attended by the diplomatic corps, officials
from MFA, MOD and the Presidential Apparat, and a wide range
of political commentators across the spectrum of opinion
including Vafa Guluzade (who spoke at the event),Rasim
Musabayov, Leila Aliyeva and Ilgar Mammadov. End Comment.
DERSE