AZERBAIJAN: MEMBER OF THE NATO COMMUNITY, BUT NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000310

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2019
TAGS: NATO PGOV PINR PREL AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: MEMBER OF THE NATO COMMUNITY, BUT NOT
THE NATO FAMILY

REF: USNATO 00305

Classified By: Amb Ivo Daalder for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In an upbeat assessment of Azerbaijan's
progress on its path to reform, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Mammadyarov reported to PermReps at the July 15 North
Atlantic Council that its relationship with NATO was "close
and improving." Mammadyarov proudly reported that Azerbaijan
had doubled its personnel contributions to ISAF and wanted to
"redouble" its efforts in several areas of reform.
Mammadyarov cast Azerbaijan as an economically strong nation,
eager for regional stability, and able to withstand pressure
from Russia to limit its Western-leaning reforms. Allies
welcomed Baku's commitment to the Partnership for Peace,
while encouraging Azerbaijan to make further reforms--
particularly political reforms. (Note: Mammadyarov's
disappointing comments on the issue of whether Azerbaijan
would provide overflight clearance to NATO AWACS planes
flying to Afghanistan in support of the NATO-led ISAF
operation were reported in reftel.) End summary.

NATO-Baku Relations: Close and Improving
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2. (C) In a July 15 meeting with the North Atlantic Council,
Azerbaijan FM Mammadyarov said that the NATO-Azerbaijan
relationship was close and improving. He noted that
Azerbaijan had been a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace
(PfP) program for 15 years and was completing its fourth year
in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) process. In
the past year, the FM reported that over 300 Azerbaijanis had
participated in NATO PfP exercises and workshops, a number
Azerbaijan hoped to double next year.

Afghanistan
--------------


3. (C) Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan was committed to stability
in the region and wanted to continue to increase its
contributions to ISAF forces and assistance to the government
of Afghanistan. He reported that Azerbaijan had doubled its
contributions to the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan
from 45 to 90 personnel. At the same time, he stressed that
Baku's primary focus in Afghanistan was in the area of good
governance. He said that Azerbaijan had provided training to
Afghan military and diplomatic officials at Azerbaijan's
military and diplomatic academies. (Note: Mammadyarov's
disappointing response to questions about overflight
clearance for NATO AWACS flights in support of the Alliance's
Afghanistan mission was reported in reftel.)

Reforms Continue
--------------


4. (C) Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan was continuing to
reform its society in order to reach its goal of being a
"stable, secular, Muslim state." As an example, he reported
on a program to use oil revenues to send over 500 students to
universities abroad, adding that he hoped that after their
education these students would return with a renewed
commitment to a democratic, open society.


5. (C) Mammadyarov said that defense and military reforms
were also continuing. He said Baku was concluding its
Military Doctrine, which would likely be presented to the
parliament this autumn. He also said that Azerbaijan was
beginning a Strategic Defense Review.

Economic and Energy Issues
--------------


6. (C) Mammadyarov reported that the economy in Azerbaijan
was growing, despite the current financial crisis. He added
that the signing on July 13, 2009 of the Nabucco Pipeline
Agreement would further bolster Azerbaijan's economy and
strengthen Europe's energy security by providing an
alternative route for Caspian Sea oil and natural gas to
Europe. At the same time, he cautioned that commercial
companies were involved in Nabucco and would have a role in
shaping it. He also said that Azerbaijan was diversifying
its economy, noting that the non-oil sector of the economy

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grew by 14 percent last year and that agri-business was an
important part of the non-oil section of the economy.

Relations with Armenia
--------------


7. (C) According to Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan's "big problem"
was its conflict with Armenia. He thanked the Alliance for
its previous expressions of support for Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity. He said that discussions in the Minsk
Process had been positive, while cautioning that the "devil
was in the details." Mammadyarov added that Azerbaijan
always had seen peace negotiations with Armenia as an
incremental, step-by-step process, adding that Armenia was
"finally" coming around to that approach as well. He said
many more confidence-building steps had to be taken before
Azerbaijan could negotiate the status of Nagorno-Karabakh,
including the withdrawal of Armenian troops from certain
areas of Azerbaijan, the return of displaced Azerbaijanis to
Nagorno-Karabakh, the restoration of rail lines and roads in
the region, and the unimpeded access of Armenians to
Nagorno-Karabakh. Mammadyarov added that he was
"conservative" in his hopes for a "breakthrough" during the
July 17th Russian-hosted summit between Armenian President
Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Aliyev. He added Russia
had "a way of making proposals that cannot be refused."

Allies Respond
--------------


8. (C) NATO Allies' Response: The PermReps applauded
Azerbaijan's troop contributions to the Alliance mission in
Afghanistan. Allies also welcomed Baku's commitment to the
Partnership for Peace, with Italy calling Azerbaijan a
"model" PfP country. At the same time, several PermReps,
including Germany and Spain, expressed concern about the slow
progress of democratic reforms and the lack of freedom of
speech and the media in Azerbaijan. Despite its more
positive comments, Italy also encouraged Azerbaijan to use
"the PfP toolbox" to further enhance political dialogue and
defense reform. A number of Allies, such as Romania,
welcomed Baku's participation in the recent PfP exercises in
Georgia which Russia had opposed.
DAALDER