Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAKU487
2009-06-18 12:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN: CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TO HELP SOLVE NK
how-toVZCZCXRO2767 OO RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0487 1691208 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181208Z JUN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1377 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3442 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1388
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000487
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC (MIKE CARPENTER),DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TO HELP SOLVE NK
Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000487
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC (MIKE CARPENTER),DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TO HELP SOLVE NK
Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.
2. (C) Summary: On June 8 human rights defender Arzu
Abdullayeva asked the Ambassador for USG help in organizing a
dialogue between Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society
actors, with a view to helping solve the Nagorno-Karabakh
(NK) conflict. Abdullayeva already organized the first
meeting of this dialogue, which is called the "Independent
Civil Minsk Process," in Tbilisi on May 22, and is looking to
hold future sessions soon. Embassy requests guidance on
whether and how the USG can aid this dialogue in the future.
End Summary.
3. (C) On June 8 well-known human rights defender Arzu
Abdullayeva met with the Ambassador. She explained the
activities of her new project to promote dialogue between
Armenians and Azerbaijanis on a solution to the NK conflict.
On May 21-22 she organized a conference in Tbilisi which
brought together Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and ethnic
Armenians and Azerbaijanis from NK itself. These groups have
decided to call themselves the Independent Civil Minsk
Process. Abdullayeva reported that this meeting was
productive, and they plan to continue meeting in this format,
and bring other civil society actors into the group. She
hopes this will aid the official Minsk Group in its mediation
efforts.
4. (C) During the meeting, Abdullayeva said she learned from
her Armenian colleagues that Armenian opposition leader Levon
Ter-Petrossian was hesitant to help with any civil society
dialogue on NK, as he does not want his political rival
President Serge Sargsian to earn credit for solving NK.
Abdullayeva and her Armenian interlocutors would like to
arrange a meeting between Ter-Petrossian and Eldar Namazov,
former advisor to President Heydar Aliyev and now an active
member of the Azerbaijani political opposition. The purpose
of such a meeting would be to convince Ter-Petrossian to
support progress on NK, and to allow him to feel that he is
part of the solution. Abdullayeva requested the USG invite
Ter-Petrossian and Namazov to Washington for this meeting.
5. (C) In addition, Abdullayeva would like to continue
meetings of the Independent Civil Minsk Process. In order to
do so, the group needs financial assistance to cover
transportation and meeting costs. The group would also need
political support with the GOAJ if they were to hold their
next meeting in Baku. The Embassy has requested more
information from Abdullayeva including a grant proposal, and
will relay this information when received.
6. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy requests guidance on the
extent to which we can support a meeting between
Ter-Petrossian and Namazov. This meeting could be hosted by
the USG or by a U.S. NGO. Embassy also requests guidance on
whether we believe financial support to the Independent Civil
Minsk Process is appropriate.
DERSE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC (MIKE CARPENTER),DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TO HELP SOLVE NK
Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.
2. (C) Summary: On June 8 human rights defender Arzu
Abdullayeva asked the Ambassador for USG help in organizing a
dialogue between Azerbaijani and Armenian civil society
actors, with a view to helping solve the Nagorno-Karabakh
(NK) conflict. Abdullayeva already organized the first
meeting of this dialogue, which is called the "Independent
Civil Minsk Process," in Tbilisi on May 22, and is looking to
hold future sessions soon. Embassy requests guidance on
whether and how the USG can aid this dialogue in the future.
End Summary.
3. (C) On June 8 well-known human rights defender Arzu
Abdullayeva met with the Ambassador. She explained the
activities of her new project to promote dialogue between
Armenians and Azerbaijanis on a solution to the NK conflict.
On May 21-22 she organized a conference in Tbilisi which
brought together Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and ethnic
Armenians and Azerbaijanis from NK itself. These groups have
decided to call themselves the Independent Civil Minsk
Process. Abdullayeva reported that this meeting was
productive, and they plan to continue meeting in this format,
and bring other civil society actors into the group. She
hopes this will aid the official Minsk Group in its mediation
efforts.
4. (C) During the meeting, Abdullayeva said she learned from
her Armenian colleagues that Armenian opposition leader Levon
Ter-Petrossian was hesitant to help with any civil society
dialogue on NK, as he does not want his political rival
President Serge Sargsian to earn credit for solving NK.
Abdullayeva and her Armenian interlocutors would like to
arrange a meeting between Ter-Petrossian and Eldar Namazov,
former advisor to President Heydar Aliyev and now an active
member of the Azerbaijani political opposition. The purpose
of such a meeting would be to convince Ter-Petrossian to
support progress on NK, and to allow him to feel that he is
part of the solution. Abdullayeva requested the USG invite
Ter-Petrossian and Namazov to Washington for this meeting.
5. (C) In addition, Abdullayeva would like to continue
meetings of the Independent Civil Minsk Process. In order to
do so, the group needs financial assistance to cover
transportation and meeting costs. The group would also need
political support with the GOAJ if they were to hold their
next meeting in Baku. The Embassy has requested more
information from Abdullayeva including a grant proposal, and
will relay this information when received.
6. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy requests guidance on the
extent to which we can support a meeting between
Ter-Petrossian and Namazov. This meeting could be hosted by
the USG or by a U.S. NGO. Embassy also requests guidance on
whether we believe financial support to the Independent Civil
Minsk Process is appropriate.
DERSE