EVALUATING AZERBAIJANI FACILITIES DEMARCHE

S E C R E T BAKU 000585 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DAS BRYZA DEFENSE FOR OUSD(P) DMELLEBY TRANSCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2034 TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS MARR AF AJ SUBJECT: EVALUATING AZERBAIJANI FACILITIES DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 78381 ¶B. BAKU 124 (NOTAL) Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES DONALD LU, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) Charge briefed Reftel A points to Novruz Mammadov, head of the foreign relations department in the Presidential Administration, on July 17. Charge's briefing was confined to Reftel information about the agreement with Kyrgyzstan, U.S. desire to develop options to Manas and seeking agreement to allow the EUCOM assessment team to visit. The briefing did not/not broach the subject of numbers/types of aircraft contemplated or of legal protections for U.S. personnel beyond the PfP SOFA. (Note: Reftel B reports commentary from the president of the Azerbaijani state air carrier relevant to the former point. End Note.) ¶2. (C) Mammadov said he had already discussed the issue in general terms with President Aliyev and that the President is basically well-disposed to it. He said he would pass the latest message directly to the President the following week. LU