AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000443 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV MARR PREL AJ RU IR TR SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT EXPRESSES INTEREST IN ADDITIONAL TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHANISTAN Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse, for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On May 5, Acting DASD(P) for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Mary Warlick met with President Ilham Aliyev. During their meeting, he provided his views on the Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process and the Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation Process, stating the two issues were linked and a potential turning point in regional relations. He also gave a positive reaction to the USG proposal for further discussions on additional troops for Afghanistan. He committed to supporting the upcoming Georgian exercise, noting that his country's performance should be rewarded in comparison with other Partnership for Peace countries. He concluded the meeting with another request for U.S. weapon sales, emphasizing air defense systems. END SUMMARY. On Nagorno Karabakh -------------- ¶2. (C) President Aliyev began by noting that he was glad that the U.S., from the very beginning, has been committed to finding a solution to the conflict. He added that the agreements that he personally has made with Yerevan have all been with the previous Armenian President. "Since the new Armenian President came into office, there have been no steps forward on the outstanding issues." Six months before the Armenian presidential elections the process stopped so it has been 18 months since there has been any significant progress, he mused. "If not items are agreed (in Prague),it will be difficult to see any progress in the future." ¶3. (C) The President continued that the current principles under discussion are acceptable to Azerbaijan. Any solution, he noted, needs to be consistent with international law and realism. Any attempt to establish the independence of Nagorno Karabakh or even a mechanism to make that possible will be a redline for Azerbaijan. He said that he was ready for everything, including border openings and normalization, to happen soon if Armenia does not delay this process. On Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation -------------- ¶4. (C) President Aliyev started by saying that the Turks had not informed them about the Turkey-Armenia reconciliation process. He said that they were first told in April, just hours before the joint statement was issued. "We do not see any energy cooperation with Turkey if they separate (Nagorno) Karabakh from this reconciliation process." He said with remorse that it would undermine everything that he has personally worked for during the past 15 years to build an energy infrastructure to the West. ¶5. (C) Aliyev stressed that Turkey-Armenian rapprochement, if not conditioned on progress on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK), would damage Azerbaijan-Turkey relations. On Troops For Afghanistan -------------- ¶6. (C) Following through on President Aliyev's April commitment in principle to deploy a regular rotation of an additional trained and equipped battalion to Afghanistan, DASD Warlick presented two alternative mission sets identified by CENTCOM and SHAPE. One would be to conduct operations in Kabul under Turkish or U.S. leadership. This mission would expand on Azerbaijan's current ISAF role, with 90 personnel operating in Kabul under Turkish leadership. The other mission would be to break the battalion into company-sized units to provide fixed-site security, likely under USMC leadership, in RC-South. This mission would be similar to the role the Azerbaijanis performed in Iraq at Haditha Dam. ¶7. (U) Aliyev sought further information about the missions and what a train and equip program might include. DASD Warlick mentioned that General Craddock was coming to Baku later in the month, and could elaborate more on the specifics. On Georgian Exercise -------------- ¶8. (C) Aliyev confirmed that Azerbaijan would not withdraw from the LONGBOW exercise in Georgia, which he said demonstrates Azerbaijan's commitment to U.S. priorities, unlike Armenia, which withdrew under Russian pressure. BAKU 00000443 002 OF 002 ¶9. (C) Aliyev noted that it would be interesting to look into the details of the performance of varying Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries, stating that Azerbaijan had participated in many 196 such events last year. He continued saying that some countries were members of the CIS Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),and yet still were PfP members, but Georgia and Azerbaijan maintained a practical approach to their cooperation. "It's time to send a clear message to the region that future cooperation will be based on countries' performance." He further noted that CSTO nations do not participate in ISAF, and the U.S. should show more visible signs of support for those that do. On Weapons Sales -------------- ¶10. (C) President Aliyev went on to say that he was very happy with United States military relations, but wanted access to NATO equipment. He sought to purchase military equipment from the U.S., a long-held desire that has been thwarted by Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. In this context, he reiterated his previously stated request to buy defensive equipment, mainly air defense equipment, citing their need to feel more protected and safe. ¶11. (U) This cable has not been cleared by DASD Warlick. DERSE