AZERBAIJAN: IRAN AND ALBORZ RIG UPDATE FROM THE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000986 SIPDIS DEPT EUR/CARC, NEA/IR DEPT FOR EEB/ESC DAS DOUG HENGEL DEPT FOR S/EEE AMB MORNINGSTAR AND DSTEIN DEPT FOR S/CT FOR GROBERTSON, DKURSCH, CLARKS DOE FOR LEKIMOFF, MBURPOE, AND DGOTTFRIED E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019 TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PREL IR AJ TX SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: IRAN AND ALBORZ RIG UPDATE FROM THE MFA REF: A. BAKU 969 ¶B. BAKU 925 ¶C. BAKU 900 BAKU 00000986 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Lu Reasons 1.4 (B,D, E) Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) Charge met with Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Khalafov on 22 December to obtain a read-out on his and FM Mammadyarov's December 14-15 trip to Tehran. DFM Khalafov indicated that FM Mammadyarov had met with President Ahmadinejad, Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani, and other senior officials while in Tehran. DFM Khalafov told the Charge the major problem confronting Azerbaijan with respect to Iran was determining the maritime border, rather than the presence of the Iranian Alborz rig specifically. He confirmed that "one official plan" was to "determine and confirm" the Modified Median Line (MML) line as the official boundary. He re-iterated Azerbaijan's intention as a last resort to appeal to the U.N. Security Council or International Court if necessary to resolve its situation with Iran. DFM Khalafov concluded that, "Azerbaijan is ready to negotiate. But we're not going to give up our interests." End Summary. MML Line May be Confirmed as Maritime Boundary -------------- - ¶2. (S) Charge first asked about the Alborz rig issue. Khalafov drew a map showing the general map as we are now familiar with it: the Astara-Hasangulu line (the former Soviet-Iranian border); Iran's 20 percent Caspian claim (in a wedge shape well into the Caspian); and the Modified Median Line proposal (in-between the previous two lines). Khalafov called Iran's twenty percent claim "groundless, and they know it." He confirmed that "one official plan" was to "determine and confirm" the MML line as the official boundary. Alborz Rig Move "Political"; Avoiding Confrontation Key -------------- -------------- ¶3. (S) Khalafov described the placement of the Alborz rig as a "political initiative," and noted that "certain regimes are using such measures." He echoed the Foreign Minister's earlier bemusement that this is an expensive way to make a political point. Underscoring the Azerbaijani wariness of a military showdown with Iran, he explained that, "What's important for Azerbaijan is to embark on negotiations with Iran, and to avoid a confrontation." "Incidents" Between Vessels -------------- ¶4. (S) DFM Khalafov did admit to certain "incidents," in which Iranian military ships had entered Azerbaijani waters, north of the MML. He claimed that Azerbaijani forces had made them retreat. He explained that the Azerbaijani ships had claimed the Iranians were in Azerbaijani territory, while the Iranian ships claimed the reverse. DFM Khalafov noted that Iran continued to press its claims to the Alov/Alborz field, the scene of 2001 confrontations between BP vessels operating on behalf of Azerbaijan, and Iranian military ships and planes. ¶5. (S) Khalafov alluded to an informal agreement between Azerbaijan and Iran not to work in the disputed zone (which includes the Alov/Alborz field) until there is demarcation of the sector. He noted that if the Iranians continued to work there while telling Azerbaijan not to work in the sector, then "we will consider the issue disputed". BAKU 00000986 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (S) Khalafov provided one new piece of information: He stated there was a 10 mile exclusive economic zone along the coast of the Azerbaijan shore. Navigation of waters outside this zone, including north of the MML is not clearly restricted. What is currently in dispute related to the Alborz platform is the claim to the seabed floor, not the surface. Therefore, shipping and the passage of military vessels north of the MML remains a gray area. Minimizing Chances for Miscalculation -------------- ¶7. (S) Charge inquired about steps which have been taken to minimize chances for a "mistake," that is, an inadvertent "incident at sea" between Azerbaijan and Iran. DFM Khalafov echoed that he too saw "chances for mistakes," and stated that the Azerbaijanis and Iranians had discussed this. He told the Charge that Iranian FM Mottoki "was trying to avoid a confrontation." He noted that Azerbaijani ships knew where they were located (in terms of GPS technology),but he did not know what technology the Iranian ships had on board. He noted that Azerbaijani Coast Guard vessels had been instructed to remain north of the MML and he was confident they had the ability to delineate the MML. "Ready to Negotiate" -------------- ¶8. (S) DFM Khalafov pointed out that, "Azerbaijan is ready to negotiate. But, we're not going to give up our interests." He noted that Turkmenistan faced a similar maritime boundary issue with Iran. He reiterated Azerbaijan's intentions to appeal to the U.N. Security Council or International Court, if necessary. Finally, DFM Khalafov noted the importance that the GOAJ placed on border cooperation with the USG. Charge restated earlier U.S. offers to assist with the Alborz rig issue. Comment -------------- ¶9. (S) DFM Khalafov presented little new information in our session. The Tehran meetings apparently did not result in any fundamentally or radically new understanding between the governments. That said, the MFA shows no evidence of being unduly alarmed at the continuation of the Alborz situation, and still offers a relatively sanguine appearance in the face of what they could choose to construe as a serious provocation. With an extremely limited naval and coast guard capacity, Azerbaijan is not in a position to present a viable military option in dealing with the Iranian oil rig. We are encouraged that the GOAJ continues to negotiate with Tehran to avoid a military confrontation in the Caspian Sea, and will continue to offer assistance as appropriate. LU