AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000707 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019 TAGS: PREL AJ AM SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW U.S. MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR REF: STATE 921194 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Lu, for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On September 4, the Charge presented reftel talking points to Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on the appointment of Ambassador Robert Bradtke as the new Minsk Group Co-Chair for the Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process. Mammadyarov said that he hoped that this appointment would mark an important step in American involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks. He believed that he might know personally Ambassador Bradtke from his service in Washington, but would wait to see his photo before being certain. ¶2. (C) The Foreign Minister asked whether we knew if Ambassador Bradtke spoke Russian or had any mediation experience. The Charge noted that Ambassador Bradtke had served in Moscow and spoke Russian many years ago. The Foreign Minister asked whether Ambassador Bradtke would come with the other Co-Chairs to Azerbaijan as planned later in the month. The Charge responded that he believed so but would confirm that information with Washington. The Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for the advance notice and said that he would immediately inform the President. LU