AZERBAIJAN: FOREIGN MINISTER BLAMES THE U.S. FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000049

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ASEC KDM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: FOREIGN MINISTER BLAMES THE U.S. FOR
THE ABUSE OF U.S. AND NORWEGIAN DIPLOMATS IN NAKHCHIVAN

REF: A. BAKU 27

B. BAKU 32

Classified By: Charge Donald Lu, for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (U) SUMMARY: During Ambassador Morningstar's January 15
meeting with Foreign Minister Mammadyarov, Charge took the
opportunity to draw the Minister's attention to the recent
incident in Nakhchivan (ref A) and the Charge's earlier
discussion with Deputy Foreign Minister Sadiqov. The
exchange was frank, if a bit heated at times, and the
Minister was not hesitant to express his ire at statements
made by the USG condemning the incident in the press. Charge
repeatedly returned to the question of the safety of
diplomats visiting Nakchivan. He noted that the Embassy had
properly notified the MFA in advance of the visit. The
Foreign Minister claimed that the U.S. Embassy had provoked
this incident and was unwittingly now being used to support
radicalism in the region. End Summary.


2. (C) At the conclusion of a January 15 meeting between
Ambassador Morningstar and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mammadyarov (ref B),Charge raised his meeting earlier that
day with Deputy Minister Vagif Sadiqov regarding Poloff's
recent visit to Nakhchivan, where she experienced threats and
harassment. The Charge explained to Minister Mammadyarov
that in their meeting, Sadiqov had requested the Embassy
coordinate better with the MFA in Baku when Mission staff is
travelling to Nakhchivan, rather than to work directly and
solely through the MFA representative located in Nakhchivan.
The Charge further explained that the Embassy wanted to avoid
any such incidents in the future and was happy to be
transparent about travel plans in exchange for a commitment
that steps would be taken to protect traveling diplomats.


3. (C) The issue was clearly a sore point for Mammadyarov as
he proceeded to lambast the Charge for the Embassy's press
release, stating that "as a friend" the Embassy should have
brought the matter to the MFA's attention directly, rather
than airing the dirty laundry in the press. The Charge
explained to Mammadyarov that calls to the MFA, the
Presidential Apparat and Ministry of the Interior prior to
issuing the press release went unanswered. Mammadyarov
accused the Embassy of being "used" by forces (presumably
Iran) which were trying to undermine Azerbaijan.


4. (C) Mammadyarov further rebuked the Charge saying twice
that the suggestion that the government did not protect
diplomats "hurt me personally." Mammadyarov also "reserved
the right" to issue his own press release, which he did that
same evening. MFA official press releases condemned the
visit to Nakhchivan and resulting press release for
interfering in internal affairs, overly politicizing events
and violating the Vienna Convention.

BACKGROUND
--------------


5. (C) On January 13, Poloff, a political LES and the DCM of
the Norwegian Embassy in Baku were harassed by an angry crowd
while visiting the village of Bananiyar in the autonomous
exclave of Nakhchivan to investigate an allegation of police
brutality in conjunction with a local observance of the
Ashura ceremony (ref B). On approaching the village the
private vehicle carrying the group was confronted by a mob of
approximately 50 people. Some of the mob pounded on the car
with their fists, damaging the vehicle. Others shouted that
the diplomats should leave, that everything was fine in the
village, and that the United States should not support
Armenia. After Poloff and the others exited the car, at
least one of the crowd grabbed the LES. After the diplomats
departed, some of the mob chased behind them in cars.
Plainclothes observers, likely from the local security
service, took no/no action. No/no uniformed police were in
the vicinity.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) When faced with an embarrassing or distasteful
incident, the general reaction has been to blame the victim
in Azerbaijan. It is true of a dozen human rights incidents
over the past year and this is yet another example. The
Foreign Minister is particularly concerned about this
incident because it pointed to the incompetence (or worse) of
MFA staff in Nakhchivan who green lighted the visit and

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perhaps were complicit in organizing the hostile reception.
The strong pushback is also symptomatic of the increasing
strains on U.S.-Azerbaijan relations in the wake of the
ongoing Turkey-Armenia Reconciliation Process.
LU