Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE70596
2009-07-08 16:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HEAD OF
how-toVZCZCXRO1273 PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHC #0596 1891627 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 081605Z JUL 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1969 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 070596
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE AJ KDEM PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HEAD OF
OFFICE IN BAKU AMBASSADOR BILGE CANKOREL
UNCLAS STATE 070596
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE AJ KDEM PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HEAD OF
OFFICE IN BAKU AMBASSADOR BILGE CANKOREL
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
July 9 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
We welcome Ambassador Cankorel to the Permanent Council, and
thank him for his comprehensive report. The United States
highly values the Office's work over the past year,
particularly in providing election-related assistance to
Azerbaijani authorities, seeking to strengthen media freedom
and promoting good governance.
We applaud the expansion of the Office's community policing
program. In our view, these innovative centers directly
contribute to the safety and security of the Azerbaijani
people. We also strongly support the Office's programs on
counter-terrorism and combating corruption among law
enforcement officials.
In the economic-environmental area, we believe the Office's
efforts to promote good governance and reinforce the
anti-corruption work of the Government are particularly
important and should be continued.
We continue to support the work of the Office and the
Representative on Freedom of the Media in their vital work to
create a more pluralistic and open media environment in
Azerbaijan, in line with OSCE commitments. We welcome
President Aliyev,s recent criticism of criminal libel, but
note that serious challenges to media freedom remain.
The Office's activities regarding rule of law, including
training to increase professionalization of judges,
prosecutors and defense lawyers, reinforce the Azerbaijani
authorities' commitment to undertake a comprehensive reform
of the judiciary. We agree that significant shortcomings
still need to be addressed in this area. We therefore fully
support the Office's intention to continue its focus on
administration of justice in the coming year.
We also support the Office's commitment to advancing
democratic governance in Azerbaijan and promoting reforms to
bring Azerbaijan's legislation in line with international
standards. Implementation of legislation, in particular
regarding elections and freedom of assembly, should continue
to be a focus of the Office.
We appreciate the Ambassador,s May statement regarding the
importance of an amended NGO law that fully meets
international standards. We encourage the Government of
Azerbaijan to consult with the OSCE and others regarding the
recently-amended laws on NGOs, religion, and the media. We
encourage the Office, as well as the Government of
Azerbaijan, to collaborate with civil society, and to develop
constructive solutions for some of Azerbaijan's most pressing
human rights problems.
Recent high-level visits by United States officials to
Azerbaijan underscore the importance that we attach to
strengthening our bilateral relationship, and improving
regional security. We reaffirm the United States' commitment
to continue working together with the Government of
Azerbaijan and the OSCE Office in Baku to advance
Azerbaijan's development as a prosperous, modern democratic
country.
Ambassador Cankorel, we wish you all the best for your work
in the coming year.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
End text.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE AJ KDEM PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO HEAD OF
OFFICE IN BAKU AMBASSADOR BILGE CANKOREL
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
July 9 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
We welcome Ambassador Cankorel to the Permanent Council, and
thank him for his comprehensive report. The United States
highly values the Office's work over the past year,
particularly in providing election-related assistance to
Azerbaijani authorities, seeking to strengthen media freedom
and promoting good governance.
We applaud the expansion of the Office's community policing
program. In our view, these innovative centers directly
contribute to the safety and security of the Azerbaijani
people. We also strongly support the Office's programs on
counter-terrorism and combating corruption among law
enforcement officials.
In the economic-environmental area, we believe the Office's
efforts to promote good governance and reinforce the
anti-corruption work of the Government are particularly
important and should be continued.
We continue to support the work of the Office and the
Representative on Freedom of the Media in their vital work to
create a more pluralistic and open media environment in
Azerbaijan, in line with OSCE commitments. We welcome
President Aliyev,s recent criticism of criminal libel, but
note that serious challenges to media freedom remain.
The Office's activities regarding rule of law, including
training to increase professionalization of judges,
prosecutors and defense lawyers, reinforce the Azerbaijani
authorities' commitment to undertake a comprehensive reform
of the judiciary. We agree that significant shortcomings
still need to be addressed in this area. We therefore fully
support the Office's intention to continue its focus on
administration of justice in the coming year.
We also support the Office's commitment to advancing
democratic governance in Azerbaijan and promoting reforms to
bring Azerbaijan's legislation in line with international
standards. Implementation of legislation, in particular
regarding elections and freedom of assembly, should continue
to be a focus of the Office.
We appreciate the Ambassador,s May statement regarding the
importance of an amended NGO law that fully meets
international standards. We encourage the Government of
Azerbaijan to consult with the OSCE and others regarding the
recently-amended laws on NGOs, religion, and the media. We
encourage the Office, as well as the Government of
Azerbaijan, to collaborate with civil society, and to develop
constructive solutions for some of Azerbaijan's most pressing
human rights problems.
Recent high-level visits by United States officials to
Azerbaijan underscore the importance that we attach to
strengthening our bilateral relationship, and improving
regional security. We reaffirm the United States' commitment
to continue working together with the Government of
Azerbaijan and the OSCE Office in Baku to advance
Azerbaijan's development as a prosperous, modern democratic
country.
Ambassador Cankorel, we wish you all the best for your work
in the coming year.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
End text.
CLINTON