AZERBAIJAN: CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TO HELP SOLVE NK

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