Home
Cables mirror and Afghan War Diary
Privacy
| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08BAKU442 |
ACTION REQUEST: U.S. SUPPORT FOR UNITED NATIONS [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see para 4. 2. (C) The Executive Director of Azerbaijan's State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) Shahmar Movsumov called Ambassador Derse this morning to thank the United States for its support for the Azerbaijan-sponsored United Nations resolution on Extractive Indust [...] |
2008-05-08 11:10:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU444 |
POLITICAL PARTIES FOCUS ON PARALLEL VOTE [...] (C) Summary: During a May 1 meeting, the Ambassador briefed Azerbaijan's major political parties on our planned USD 3.2 million in assistance programs to support a free and fair presidential election. The parties welcomed the assistance, focusing on the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) as an e [...] |
2008-05-08 15:35:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM EAID AJ |
| 08BAKU446 |
U/S JEFFERY MEETS WITH KEY AZERBAIJANI MINISTERS [...] (C) SUMMARY: During an April 22 visit to Baku, Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Reuben Jeffery III discussed with the Foreign Minister and State Oil Company president the importance of gas transit and securing Caspia [...] |
2008-05-12 05:26:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL PGOV AJ |
| 08BAKU447 |
AZERBAIJAN: SENIOR OFFICIALS REACT STRONGLY TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Senior GOAJ officials have reacted unusually harshly to recent USG statements criticizing Azerbaijan's lack of political will to resolve its separatist conflict, its imprisonment of journalists and especially, comparing Azerbaijan's record on democracy unfavorably to that of Arm [...] |
2008-05-13 13:06:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ PGOV PHUM PREL |
| 08BAKU454 |
ELECTION MONITORING CENTER DEREGISTERED AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 14, a Baku court ordered the deregistration and annulment of the Election Monitoring Center (EMC), based on an appeal filed by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). It is unclear how the MOJ will attempt to enforce the decision, as it is an unprecedented step in Azerbaijan. The [...] |
2008-05-14 12:12:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AJ |
| 08BAKU459 |
OSCE BAKU HOLDS FIRST ELECTION BRIEFING FOR [...] (SBU) Summary: On May 7, OSCE Baku Head of Mission Herrero Ansola held the first of planned monthly election briefings for OSCE member states. He briefed the OSCE members on logistics for the October presidential election, including the likely 11 candidates, as well as planned OSCE technica [...] |
2008-05-16 12:14:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU460 |
SCENESETTER FOR CODEL SCHIFF'S VISIT TO [...] (SBU) Azerbaijan's pro-Western foreign policy orientation, geopolitical setting -- sandwiched between Iran and Russia -- and ability to provide alternative energy supplies to Europe make it an important U.S. partner. It is in our interests to have a reforming, stable, pro-western Azerbaijan. [...] |
2008-05-16 12:56:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM PBTS AM AJ |
| 08BAKU461 |
GOVERNMENT "SHARKS" PUSH LARGE AMERICAN INVESTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a sign of the difficult business environment in Azerbaijan, a major foreign investor has decided to sell its investment and leave Azerbaijan. Russia's Baltika Breweries, a subsidiary of Carlsberg, announced the purchase of Baku Castel on May 15. CEO of the local brewery Baku C [...] |
2008-05-16 12:59:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EFIN KCOR PREL PGOV AJ |
| 08BAKU466 |
JUSTICE MINISTRY TAKES ACTION FOLLOWING COURT [...] (SBU) According to the NDI Baku Acting Country Director, on May 19, Ministry of Justice (MOJ) court bailiffs visited the Election Monitoring Center's (EMC's) main office in Baku, demanding that the EMC's secretary sign a statement that the office was the EMC's official office. When she refused [...] |
2008-05-21 04:45:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AJ |
| 08BAKU467 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV SHARES HIS VISION WITH U/S JEFFERY [...] (C) SUMMARY: In an April 22 conversation with U/S Jeffery and Ambassador Derse, President Aliyev said that he was seeking "greater clarity" from the Nabucco countries as to their real intentions, and from Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov on how active the GOTX will be in seeking energy cooper [...] |
2008-05-21 06:32:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG |
| 08BAKU473 |
AZERBAIJANI MFA READOUT ON MAY WTO WORKING PARTY [...] (SBU) Summary: Deputy Foreign Minister Mammadguliyev provided a positive assessment of Azerbaijan's May WTO Working Party meeting and bilateral negotiations with the U.S. Azerbaijan plans to complete concordance within the next two months and hopes to complete its WTO Action Plan and submit [...] |
2008-05-22 13:32:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PREL EAGR WTRO AJ |
| 08BAKU478 |
SCENESETTER FOR SCA A/S BOUCHER,S MAY 30 VISIT TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Building on the success of the BTC and SCP pipelines, Azerbaijan could become a still more important producer and transit country for Capsian energy reserves. Several key issues must be resolved. Azerbaijan is working quietly with Turkmenistan to improve their relationship, sett [...] |
2008-05-23 11:56:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG |
| 08BAKU481 |
OPPOSITION JOURNALIST FEARS FOR LIFE, SEEKS ASYLUM [...] (C) Summary: Opposition Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil told us May 22 that he faces continuing pressure and threats following February and March assaults against him and subsequent smear campaign. A May 7 assault and attempted kidnapping prompted him to stop working and flee to his [...] |
2008-05-23 14:44:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREF KDEM PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU482 |
INITIAL READOUT OF TURKMEN PRESIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan President Berdimuhamedov's May 19-20 visit to Baku was a significant step in the ongoing improvement of bilateral relations. According to SOCAR President Abdullayev, although the two heads of state seems to have reached no specific agreement on offshore energy devel [...] |
2008-05-23 15:04:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG TX |
| 08BAKU483 |
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN: MIXED MESAGES FROM THE [...] (C) Summary: On May 23, the President's senior legal advisor told the Embassy that the USAID-funded Election Monitoring Center (EMC) would not be allowed to conduct election monitoring following the recent court decision to de-register and disband the organization. In contrast, on May 15 in [...] |
2008-05-23 15:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ PGOV PREL |
| 08BAKU484 |
AZERBAIJAN'S RESPONSE TO PRE-NOTIFICATION FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-23 16:03:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN KTFN PTER PINR PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU485 |
DEMARCHE ON UNSCR 1803 60-DAY REPORT DELIVERED TO [...] (SBU) On May 19, the DCM delivered reftel points to Gabil Israfilov, Head of Regional and International Security in the MFA's Security Affairs Department. Poloff also delivered the points to MFA Security Affairs Department Officer Yalchin Rafiyev in a May 20 meeting. Rafiyev explained that th [...] |
2008-05-23 16:06:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN AORC ETRD TRGY KNNP UNSC IR AJ |
| 08BAKU494 |
AZERBAIJAN SCENESETTER FOR SPECIAL ENVOY FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Building on the success of the BTC and SCP pipelines, Azerbaijan could become a still more important producer and transit country for Caspian energy reserves. Several key issues must be resolved. Azerbaijan is working quietly with Turkmenistan to improve their relationship, sett [...] |
2008-05-30 04:31:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ PGOV PREL ENRG |
| 08BAKU496 |
KOREAN COMPANIES FACE CHALLENGES IN AZERBAIJAN'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: Although the press has reported that South Korean companies are winning major construction and transportation deals, the Baku-based Director of the Korean Ministry of Construction and Transportation Yong Seog Kim reports that Korean companies are facing problems in concluding the [...] |
2008-05-30 10:43:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KCOR EFIN ETRD AJ |
| 08BAKU499 |
RECOMMENDING GREATER ENGAGEMENT WITH AZERBAIJAN [...] (S/NF) Summary: Azerbaijan is an increasingly important partner for the United States. A Muslim country bordered by Russia and Iran, it is a firmly secular, pro-American partner in a region beset by radical Islam. Our security cooperation is excellent and growing, and could take on still m [...] |
2008-05-30 13:26:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV ENRG MOPS KDEM PBTS AJ |
| 08BAKU51 |
AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT TELLS SENATOR LUGAR HE WANTS [...] (C) Summary: In a January 14 meeting with Senator Lugar, President Aliyev said that the Turkmen President is moving too slowly on trans-Caspian gas discussions while at the same time continuing to sign deals with Russia. Aliyev said that he needs a political signal in the next six months to [...] |
2008-01-18 12:08:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ENRG MARR AJ RS IR |
| 08BAKU511 |
PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF STILL STEWING OVER [...] (C) Summary: Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev used a May 27 meeting with visiting NDI Regional Director Laura Jewett and the Ambassador to lay out in stark terms the Azerbaijani Government's continuing anger over recent public statements by U.S. officials that were critical of Azer [...] |
2008-06-02 14:17:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EAID AJ |
| 08BAKU524 |
AZERBAIJAN ADOPTS NEW LAW ON FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, [...] (C) Summary: On May 30 and June 2, the Azerbaijani Parliament adopted amendments to the law on freedom of assembly and electoral code. OSCE experts believe that the new law on freedom of assembly, if properly implemented, will meet Venice Commission standards. The changes to the electoral [...] |
2008-06-05 11:06:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU535 |
AZERBAIJAN: TURKEY NAKHCHIVAN SUMMIT A SUCCESS, [...] (C) SUMMARY. Initial press accounts indicate that Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's June 4 meeting in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan was successful, with the two countries announcing that their positions coincide "in all spheres." However, SOCAR Vice Pre [...] |
2008-06-09 13:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG TK |
| 08BAKU541 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV "HURT" BY U.S. CRITICISMS, SEEKS [...] (C) Summary: On May 30, President Aliyev bluntly detailed his personal sense of "hurt" over statements by the Secretary and President that were critical of Azerbaijan's democracy and human rights record. He views the statements as part of a trend -- the UNGA vote, the Presidential statement [...] |
2008-06-10 11:25:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG AJ |
| 08BAKU543 |
AZERBAIJAN: INPUT FOR OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING [...] (SBU) As requested ref a, the Embassy offers our thoughts on areas of concern in Azerbaijan's human rights performance that could be discussed with the GOAJ in the run-up to the September 29 - October 10 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM), in hopes of securing greater progress. [...] |
2008-06-10 12:53:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM KDEM OSCE AJ |
| 08BAKU547 |
NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE SPLITS WORLD AZERBAIJANIS [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijani Member of Parliament Sabir Rustamxanli and current World Azerbaijanis Congress (WAC) President Ghulamriza Sabri-Tabrizi are both claiming leadership of the organization and organizing rival annual congresses. The organization's split appears to be driven by differen [...] |
2008-06-12 10:40:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL KDEM IR AJ |
| 08BAKU550 |
AZERBAIJAN: TOTAL AND SOCAR AGREE TO EXPLORE, [...] (C) SUMMARY. French Energy Company Total has signed an agreement with SOCAR to explore and develop the Absheron offshore field, expected to be a gas-condensate field. Total believes that production from the field could begin o/a 2015; it has not provided an estimate of the field,s possible r [...] |
2008-06-13 09:41:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG |
| 08BAKU552 |
AZERBAIJAN: SE GRAY'S MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy C. Boyden Gray, accompanied by EUR DAS Matthew Bryza, Eurasian Energy Coordinator Ambassador Steven Mann, Ambassador Richard Hoagland, and Ambassador Anne Derse, met separately with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Energy Minist [...] |
2008-06-17 10:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG PINR PGOV PREL AJ TX |
| 08BAKU553 |
PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF CONTINUES TO EXPRESS [...] (C) Summary: Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev told visiting EUR DAS Bryza that, as a strategic partner, Azerbaijan expects the U.S. to take a more active role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict. Mehdiyev said greater U.S. activism and pressure is needed to balance Rus [...] |
2008-06-17 10:24:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU557 |
PROMINENT AZERBAIJAN MEDIA RIGHTS ACTIVIST BEATEN [...] (C) Summary: On June 14, Emin Huseynov, director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Security (IRFS), was arrested and beaten by an unidentified, non-uniformed individual. Huseynov was detained while covering a commemoration of Che Guevera's birthday, along with 21 other participant [...] |
2008-06-17 12:54:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU559 |
SCENESETTER FOR DRL A/S KRAMER'S VISIT TO BAKU, [...] (C) Summary: President Aliyev and his closest advisors are still perturbed over what they perceive as a series of slights from the USG, which they view as inconsistent with our bilateral partnership. They are expressing their anger through a new, tough line on democracy and human rights iss [...] |
2008-06-18 08:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KCOR AJ |
| 08BAKU560 |
SCENESETTER FOR DRL A/S KRAMER'S VISIT TO BAKU, [...] (C) Summary: President Aliyev and his closest advisors are still perturbed over what they perceive as a series of slights from the USG, which they view as inconsistent with our bilateral partnership. They are expressing their anger through a new, tough line on democracy and human rights iss [...] |
2008-06-18 08:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KCOR AJ |
| 08BAKU565 |
AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT SAYS ENERGY COOPERATION MUST [...] (C) SUMMARY. In a June 2 meeting with Special Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Ambassador Steve Mann, President Aliyev said the recent visit of Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov helped moved forward the bilateral relationship, which could well lead to expanded cooperation on energy sector devel [...] |
2008-06-18 11:24:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ ENRG PGOV PREL TU TX |
| 08BAKU566 |
AZERBAIJAN: SOCAR TELLS SE GRAY EVERYONE WANTS [...] (C) SUMMARY. SOCAR President Rovnaq Abdullayev told a USG delegation on June 2 that in addition to competition among the Nabucco, TGI and TAP pipeline projects for Shah Deniz Phase Two gas, Turkey, Israel, Iran and Russia have each individually notified SOCAR that they wish to purchase all o [...] |
2008-06-18 11:36:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG AJ TX TK |
| 08BAKU582 |
AMBASSADOR RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS CASES WITH [...] (SBU) On June 19, the Ambassador raised the case of Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil with Presidential Advisor Ali Hasanov. Khalil, who had been beaten and stabbed following his investigative reporting on a suspect land deal (ref a), told the press that he was once again prevented from [...] |
2008-06-20 10:58:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU584 |
AZERBAIJAN: RWE, TGI, OMV, DEPA ALL SAY 'TIME IS [...] (C) SUMMARY. Companies involve with TGI and Nabucco, two of the three pipelineprojects seeking to buy Shah Deniz Phase Two gas agree that the next six months are crucial for rogress in the Southern Corridor project, and that main stumbling block currently is the issue of gas transit through T [...] |
2008-06-20 14:20:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AJ ENRG |
| 08BAKU585 |
AZERBAIJAN: PENDING BREAKTHROUGH IN TURKMENISTAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Aliyev told the Ambassador on June 20 that the June 19 Ashgabat visit of a delegation headed by SOCAR President Rovnaq Abdullayev went well, and that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan "may have some news on gas soon." In a separate conversation, SOCAR Marketing Vice-President [...] |
2008-06-20 15:22:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG AJ TX TU |
| 08BAKU591 |
AZERBAIJANI POLICE DISRUPT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' [...] (C) On June 11, police reportedly broke up a Jehovah's Witnesses' service in Lokbatan, a Baku suburb. Baku-based Jehovah's Witnesses representative Leonid Moroz told us approximately 15-20 uniformed and non-uniformed police officers raided the service, which was being held in a private apart [...] |
2008-06-23 10:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU593 |
AZERBAIJAN: 2008 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. This cable contains proprietary business information and should be handled accordingly. 2. (U) This cable responds to request in reftel for information on current business disputes and expropriation claims for inclusion in the Department's annual report to [...] |
2008-06-24 05:01:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV KIDE PGOV AJ |
| 08BAKU596 |
UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND [...] (SBU) The GOAJ continues to maintain that opposition Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil was stabbed by Sergey Strekhalin in a homosexual lovers, quarrel. Strekhalin, who faces criminal assault and narcotics charges, was scheduled to be tried June 24 in a Baku municipal court (Nasimi dist [...] |
2008-06-24 13:30:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU598 |
AZERBAIJAN CANDIDATES FOR MAKTOUM FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURS [...] (U) Embassy Baku has identified the following entrepreneurs to be considered for a potential Arab/Muslim Annual Regional Entrepreneurs Conference (AREC) under discussion with the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Foundation (the Maktoum Foundation) in Dubai. (U) Mr. Javid Guliyev, Deputy Chairma [...] |
2008-06-25 13:10:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU599 |
OSCE/ODIHR ELECTION EXPERTS RECOMMEND OBSERVATION [...] (C) Summary: OSCE/ODIHR election experts conducted a needs assessment June 17-20, in preparation for Azerbaijan's October 15 presidential election. Although they were concerned by problems in the pre-election environment (particularly with regard to media freedom and freedom of assembly), th [...] |
2008-06-25 14:25:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM OSCE AJ |
| 08BAKU6 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV OUTLINES PLNS FOR STATE FUNDING [...] (C) SUMMARY: On December 13, President liyev issued a decree outlining a plan to provid state funding to NGOs and creating a Council fo State Support of NGOs. This decree was issued as a follow-up to the President's July 27 decree initially proposing the GOAJ's new NGO concept (reftel). The [...] |
2008-01-04 09:52:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHU KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU602 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV PITCHES AZERBAIJAN AS STRONGER [...] (C) Summary: In a May 24 meeting with CODEL Schiff, President Aliyev outlined Azerbaijan's cooperation with the U.S., highlighting contributions in security, counter-terorrism and energy security, and contrasting them to Armenia's continuing dependence on Russia. He said Azerbaijan seeks gr [...] |
2008-06-26 08:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS KDEM PHUM AM AJ |
| 08BAKU603 |
AZERBAIJANI POLICE IMPRISON BAPTIST PASTOR [...] (C) Baku-based Baptist representative Ilya Zenchenko told the Embassy that Baptist pastor Hamid Shabanov has been detained by police in the northwestern village of Aliabad. Police arrested Shabanov on June 20 after searching his residence and finding a handgun. Shabanov, Shabanov's family me [...] |
2008-06-26 09:07:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU604 |
CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a May 24 meeting with Representative Schiff and the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Mammadyarov underscored Azerbaijan's interest in an early peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict and the benefits that increased cooperation with a rapidly developing Azerbaija [...] |
2008-06-26 10:45:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS AM AJ |
| 08BAKU61 |
OPPOSITION JOURNALIST RECEIVES SIX-YEAR PRISON [...] (SBU) On January 21, the Court of Grave Crimes convicted opposition Bizim Yol newspaper correspondent Mushvig Huseynov of accepting a bribe (Criminal Code article 331), and sentenced him to six years' imprisonment. In addition to the prison sentence, the court banned Huseynov from engaging in [...] |
2008-01-24 08:56:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KCOR AJ |
| 08BAKU620 |
AZERBAIJAN'S SOCAR UPBEAT ON TURKMENISTAN; WORRIED [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a June 24 meeting, SOCAR President Rovnaq Abdullayev told the Ambassador that during a recent meeting in Ashgabat he had outlined to Turkmenistan President Berdimuhamedov a vision of bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries. Berdimuhamedov struck him as a reasona [...] |
2008-06-30 13:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TK ENRG |
| 08BAKU621 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION PREPARATIONS WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a June 25 meeting with the Ambassador, Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Panahov reviewed preparations for Azerbaijan's October presidential election, including voter education and efforts to improve the voter lists. He defended recent changes to the electoral cod [...] |
2008-06-30 13:21:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU624 |
AZERBAIJAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA IN THE LEAD [...] (C) Summary: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will make his first state visit to Baku on July 3-4, following on the heels of recent stops in Azerbaijan from the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin, and Speaker of the Lower House of the Duma Boris G [...] |
2008-07-02 04:46:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG RU AJ |
| 08BAKU625 |
AZERBAIJAN FACES CHALLENGE OF PROTECTING CRITICAL [...] (S) Summary: On June 9-13 an interagency team representing the Global Critical Energy Infrastructure Program (GCEIP) and consisting of representatives from the Department of State, Department of Energy, the Coast Guard, and EUCOM met with a number of government and private industry officials respon [...] |
2008-07-02 06:27:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | ENRG EPET PTER MARR MASS PBTS IR AJ |
| 08BAKU627 |
BUSINESS LEADERS EXPERIENCE ONGOING CHALLENGES IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Business and IFI leaders gave visiting Special Representative for Economic and Business Affairs Frank Mermoud an overview of increasing problems in Azerbaijan's business climate, stating that in some instances, corruption and monopolistic practices were on the rise. They agree [...] |
2008-07-02 12:03:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV KCOR PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU629 |
P-1 REFERRAL FOR U.S. RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM: [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Embassy has identified Azerbaijani journalist Agil Khalil as a candidate for the U.S. Resettlement Program as a Priority One referral. Khalil submitted a written request for refugee resettlement in the U.S. to the Embassy. In this request, Khalil alleges that he is in dange [...] |
2008-07-02 12:48:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PHUM KDEM CVIS AJ |
| 08BAKU630 |
AZERBAIJAN STATOIL EXEC SAYS SD1 AND SD2 WILL BE [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to a Baku-based StatoilHydro executive, issues relating to the new price of Shah Deniz Phase One gas being sold to Turkey will be solved contemporaneously with agreement of sales of volumes of Shah Deniz Phase Two to Turkey. According to him, there are features of the S [...] |
2008-07-02 13:02:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU ENRG |
| 08BAKU637 |
AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST AGIL KHALIL FORCED TO [...] (SBU) The Azerbaijani judiciary moved forward with its effort to force opposition journalist Agil Khalil to testify at the trial of Sergey Strekhalin. (Per reftel, the Prosecutor General's office maintains that Strekhalin stabbed Khalil in a homosexual lovers' quarrel. Khalil denies that St [...] |
2008-07-03 10:59:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU638 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE [...] (SBU) On July 1 the Ambassador met with Eldar Namazov, head of the "For the Sake of Azerbaijan" forum, and a likely candidate in the October presidential election. Namazov requested this meeting in advance of his trip to Washington, D.C. during the week of July 7, which is sponsored by the [...] |
2008-07-03 11:07:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU639 |
PACE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS ABOUT AZERBAIJAN'S [...] (SBU) On June 24, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) approved resolution 1614, which serves as a "scorecard" on the state of Azerbaijan's democratic institutions. The resolution's overall tone is critical of Azerbaijan's track record, citing the "deteriorating" human [...] |
2008-07-03 11:08:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU64 |
AZERBAIJAN MFA COMMENTS ON SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ [...] (S) SUMMARY: Given Azerbaijani officials' repeated statements that GOAJ troops will remain in Iraq "as long as they are needed," we expect that the GOAJ will work with us to find a way to keep troops in Iraq beyond the expiration of the Chapter VII UNSCR. According to MFA Security Affairs Di [...] |
2008-01-25 07:19:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL MARR MOPS IZ AJ |
| 08BAKU645 |
DEMARCHE ON IRISL CARGO INSPECTION PROVISION [...] (S) As instructed in reftel, the Embassy delivered the nonpaper on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) cargo inspection provision to a working level officer in Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The officer thanked us for providing him the information and promised to pa [...] |
2008-07-07 13:26:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | AJ IR ECON EFIN EWWT ETRD PARM PINR PREL |
| 08BAKU646 |
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT MEDVEDEV DISCUSSES ENERGY AND NK [...] (C) Summary: During his July 3-4 visit to Baku, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed energy and Nagorno-Karabakh with President Aliyev. Despite the usual public rhetoric of friendly relations, public statements from the leaders and press reporting indicate that no substantive agreement [...] |
2008-07-07 13:39:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PGOV ENRG RU AJ |
| 08BAKU649 |
EEB/CBA MERMOUD DISCUSSES EPC AND COMMERCIAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In meetings with GOAJ officials, Special Representative for Economic and Business Affairs Frank Mermoud proposed a September 8 meeting of the Economic Partnership Commission; Minister of Finance Sharifov indicated that the date could be difficult due to GOAJ budget preparation [...] |
2008-07-08 06:11:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EINV KCOR PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU651 |
DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION DELIVERED, [...] (C) The Embassy delivered the points in reftel on the importance of recognizing Kosovo via a letter from the Ambassador to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Given the GOAJ's foreign policy focus on the conflict over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and its concerns about Kosovo b [...] |
2008-07-08 08:24:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU KPKO KV AJ |
| 08BAKU652 |
DRL A/S KRAMER URGES PRESIDENT ALIYEV TO IMPROVE [...] (C) Summary: In a very frank June 27 meeting, DRL A/S Kramer urged President Aliyev to "turn an area of friction into an area of improvement" in the bilateral relationship by taking concrete steps to address Azerbaijan's human rights problems. Although initially cool and somewhat testy, Pre [...] |
2008-07-08 08:47:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM PBTS AJ |
| 08BAKU658 |
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: DRL A/S Kramer and Foreign Minister Mammadaryov conducted the fourth round of the DRL-led U.S.-Azerbaijan Democracy and Human Rights Dialogue on June 27 in Baku. Mammadyarov defended Azerbaijan's recent electoral changes as in keeping with European standards and agreed that imp [...] |
2008-07-09 07:01:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS KIRF PBTS AJ |
| 08BAKU660 |
DEMARCHE ON UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONGRESS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-09 10:53:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ECON ETRD WTRO AJ |
| 08BAKU667 |
AZERBAIJAN INCREASES 2008 BUDGET WITH LARGE [...] (C) SUMMARY: With the May 2 approval of the 2008 supplemental budget by Parliament, the Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) increased expenditures by USD 3.7 billion, raising total expenditures to USD 12.2 billion. In order to fund the dramatic increase in expenditures, the GOAJ will increase th [...] |
2008-07-10 07:27:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD ENRG EFIN AJ |
| 08BAKU668 |
AZERBAIJAN TO LOOK INTO ITS REQUIREMENTS FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-10 07:29:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | IZ MARR PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU67 |
PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF RAMIZ MEHDIYEV REVIEWS [...] (C) Summary: In a January 14 meeting with visiting EUR DAS Matt Bryza, Presidential Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev repeated long-standing policy that Azerbaijan is prepared to give Nagorno Karabakh "the highest autonomous status" but cannot agree to "give territory to Armenia." Arguing that [...] |
2008-01-28 06:32:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU671 |
AZERBAIJAN SCENESETTER FOR JULY 14 VISIT OF [...] (C) Your second visit to Baku comes on the heels of your early June participation in the Fifteenth Annual Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference (ref A), and your subsequent early July letter to President Aliyev providing input for next steps we can take together to pursue joint USG-GOAJ ene [...] |
2008-07-11 09:30:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG TU |
| 08BAKU674 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAYS NO COUNTRY HAS RIGHT TO [...] (C) Summary: In a speech delivered to the biannual conference of all Azerbaijani heads of diplomatic missions, President Aliyev pushed for a strong public diplomacy effort to bolster Azerbaijan's position in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, presented a confident vision of Azerbaijan's place in [...] |
2008-07-11 15:05:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU675 |
PRESIDENT MEDVEDEV'S VISIT MEANT TO TELL [...] (C) Summary: According to the Russian Ambassador to Baku Vasily Istratov, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Baku had one major purpose: to convey the message to the GOAJ that "Azerbaijan matters" to Russia. Defining the new relationships as "same book, different page," Istratov c [...] |
2008-07-11 15:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG RU AJ |
| 08BAKU679 |
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF JAILED [...] (C) On July 10 the Ambassador met with Jamil Hasanli, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee Defending the Rights of Farhad Aliyev, and Elton Guliyev, a lawyer for Farhad Aliyev. Hasanli began the meeting with a discussion of the difficult situation facing journalists in Azerbaij [...] |
2008-07-15 06:55:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KJUS PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU682 |
AZERBAIJAN: JUDICIAL PRESSURE AGAINST AGIL KHALIL [...] (C) Summary: In an expected outcome, a Baku court found Sergey Strekhalin guilty of attacking opposition Azadliq newspaper correspondent Agil Khalil on March 13 and sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment. The proceedings, which Western observers agree resembled a show trial, were peppered [...] |
2008-07-16 13:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU686 |
OIL FUND AGAIN REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT TO BRING [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 5. 2. (C) The Executive Director of Azerbaijan's State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) Shahmar Movsumov called Ambassador Derse July 11 to ask that the United States now support bringing the Azerbaijan-sponsored United Nations resolution on Extractive Industrie [...] |
2008-07-17 12:48:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU687 |
OPPOSITION MUSAVAT RALLY BROKEN UP BY POLICE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 11 a rally outside the Baku Mayor's Office organized by the Musavat Party was violently disrupted by the police. This rally was the first test of the GOAJ's implementation of its newly amended law on freedom of assembly. The continued inability of opposition parties t [...] |
2008-07-17 14:42:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KJUS AJ |
| 08BAKU692 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRO-IRANIAN SHIA NETWORKS TARRING [...] (C) Summary: U.S. exchange participant and graduate of an Iranian theological institute Muslim Elshan Mustafayev told the Embassy that pro-Iranian Shia networks in Azerbaijan have stepped up their criticism of Azerbaijani Shias who travel to the U.S. or maintain contact with Western embassie [...] |
2008-07-21 09:21:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU698 |
TWO NEW ECHR JUDGMENTS AGAINST GOAJ [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 10 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered two new judgments against the GOAJ. The judgments in both Hajibeyli v. Azerbaijan and Rahmanova v. Azerbaijan found that the GOAJ had violated the plaintiff's right to a fair and timely trial, along with other violati [...] |
2008-07-22 12:08:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU699 |
OSCE CONDUCTS ELECTION TRAINING FOR EXCOMS AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the week of July 7 the OSCE Office in Baku, in cooperation with the GOAJ, conducted a series of trainings for the Heads of the Regional Executive Authorities and the Chairmen of the Constituency Election Commissions. These trainings focused on the illegality of interference [...] |
2008-07-22 13:43:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU70 |
RUMORS SWIRL OF MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since his 2005 appointment as Minister of Economic Development, Heydar Babayev's political influence and personal financial wealth have been growing. Many attribute his appointment to his close personal relationship with President Ilham Aliyev; the two studied in Kyiv and are ru [...] |
2008-01-28 11:39:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ETDR ECON WTRO PINR PGOV KCOR PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU700 |
OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING DEMARCHE-AZERBAIJAN [...] (C) Per reftel request, PolOff delivered USG concerns and comments to Zaur Ahmadov, Human Rights Attache at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). 2. (C) Ahmadov thanked the Embassy for the points, describing the non-paper as "a very good paper," and offered comments on a number of the iss [...] |
2008-07-23 05:42:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM OSCE PREL PHUM |
| 08BAKU701 |
DEMARCHE ON IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS MESA SEAT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-23 09:33:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | IAEA KNNP PREL KZ SY AORC AJ |
| 08BAKU702 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DESIGNATION OF IRANIAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-23 09:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM KNNP EFIN IR AJ |
| 08BAKU71 |
AZERBAIJAN: INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT 2008 [...] This cable contains post's Investment Climate Statement for 2008. The Statement includes the following sections: Introduction A.1. Openness to Foreign Investment A.2. Conversion and Transfer Policies A.3. Expropriation and Compensation A.4. Dispute Settlement A.5. Performance Requir [...] |
2008-01-28 11:39:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | KTDB ECON EFIN EINV ELAB ETRD OPIC PGOV AJ |
| 08BAKU714 |
DEMARCHE ON IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS SEAT DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-31 05:23:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | IAEA KNNP PREL KZ SY AORC AJ |
| 08BAKU715 |
ACTION REQUEST: REVIEW OF AZERBAIJAN'S MILITARY [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2. 2. (SBU) The Embassy has completed an informal translation of Azerbaijani's military doctrine. This translation has been sent to PM, EUR/CARC, and OSD Policy. The Embassy requests that State and DoD facilitate a timely technical revie [...] |
2008-07-31 06:28:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AJ |
| 08BAKU717 |
AZERBAIJAN STICKS TO ITS STORY ON CONFRONTATION [...] (S) Summary: Embassy contacts have provided a consistent account of an incident in early April during which they claim a Turkmen oil exploration rig, accompanied by a Russian research vessel, crossed into Azerbaijani waters from Turkmenistan. The GOAJ's description of the events differs wid [...] |
2008-07-31 13:22:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PGOV PREL ENRG AJ TX |
| 08BAKU718 |
63RD UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-31 13:34:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA AJ |
| 08BAKU719 |
AZERBAIJAN,S SOCAR DISCUSSES TURKMEN NEXT STEPS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a July 16 conversation, SOCAR Marketing Vice-President Elshad Nassirov and Eurasian Energy Coordinator Steven Mann discussed prospects for an "early gas" project getting Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan, with both agreeing that the first, and key, step was the Turkmen President makin [...] |
2008-07-31 15:26:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG AJ TX |
| 08BAKU721 |
AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES (ANOTHER) TURKMEN DIP NOTE RE [...] (C) In a July 16 meeting, GOAJ MFA Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Shamil Aleskerov showed Eurasian Energy Coordinator Ambassador Steve Mann a diplomatic note recently received from the Government of Turkmenistan. The diplomatic note said that the Turkmen government expressed a decisive protest [...] |
2008-08-01 03:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU TX |
| 08BAKU726 |
AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT, SPECIAL ENVOY GRAY DISCUSS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a July 14 meeting with Special Envoy Gray, President Aliyev sought USG views on how to best proceed on the Southern Corridor project. SE Gray reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to work with Turkey and the EU to enable gas transit. To entice Turkmenistan into shipping gas west, [...] |
2008-08-04 10:30:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON ENRG EPET PGOV PINR PREL AZ TU |
| 08BAKU728 |
SOCAR VP, SE GRAY DISCUSS NEXT STEPS RE TURKEY [...] (C) SUMMARY: SOCAR Marketing Vice-President Elshad Nassirov, one of President Aliyev's key energy advisors, told SE Gray that selling any more than four billion cubic meters (bcm) of Shah Deniz Phase Two gas (SD2) to Turkey would "kill the Southern Corridor project." He said Turkey sought ei [...] |
2008-08-05 04:42:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON ENRG EPET PGOV PINR PREL AZ TU |
| 08BAKU729 |
BOEING TO SELL ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT TO AZERBAIJAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 4, Boeing Regional Sales Director Serdar Gurz, visiting from London, reported a successful upgrade of Azerbaijan Airlines's (AZAL's) aircraft order from a total of five aircraft (three 787s and two 737-900s) to a total of eight aircraft: two 787s, two 767-300ERs, and fou [...] |
2008-08-05 04:43:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINT EAIR AZ TX |
| 08BAKU73 |
AZERBAIJANI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS [...] (C) Summary: During a December 28 meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov remained noncommittal on a U.S. request to deploy an additional company to Iraq and a provision of a battalion for Afghanistan in the context of a potential TEP offer. Azimov said President Al [...] |
2008-01-29 05:05:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MASS PBTS IZ AJ |
| 08BAKU730 |
ANOTHER OPPOSITION MUSAVAT RALLY BROKEN UP BY [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 1 the opposition Musavat party attempted to hold another rally in front of the Baku Mayor's Office, but the event was immediately broken up by the police. No excessive force was used by police when detaining thirteen people. The rally was intended to draw attention to [...] |
2008-08-05 06:13:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU731 |
TURKISH FETULLAH GULEN NETWORK'S PRESENCE IN [...] (C) Summary: The Fetullah Gulen network is one component of Azerbaijan's Islamic scene. The network's Turkish orientation and emphasis on establishing quality educational institutions has enabled it to establish a presence in Azerbaijan. "Chag Oyretim" ("Modern Education") -- a private Tur [...] |
2008-08-05 10:29:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU733 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PRE-ELECTION AZERBAIJAN WITH [...] (C) Summary: EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby won President Aliyev's commitment to launch an EU democracy dialogue with Azerbaijan, but met some resistance from the Foreign Minister, who suggested expanding the theme of the discussions. Azerbaijan's leaders have [...] |
2008-08-05 12:46:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL ENRG AZ |
| 08BAKU737 |
OSCE CHAIRMAN IN OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE BRIEFS [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 30 the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman in Office Heikke Talvitie briefed the OSCE member country Ambassadors about his trip to Baku. He discussed the OSCE's role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its role in observing elections. In his meeting with Presi [...] |
2008-08-06 11:11:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU739 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV WELCOMES HIGHEST-LEVEL USG [...] (C) Summary: In an August 4 meeting with the Ambassador and visiting OVP Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Joe Wood, President Aliyev welcomed the proposed visit of the Vice President, expressing general satisfaction with the U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship. Identifying Nagorno-Kar [...] |
2008-08-06 12:59:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PGOV PREL ENRG AJ |
| 08BAKU740 |
PROBLEM WITH BTC PIPELINE IN TURKEY UNLIKELY TO [...] (SBU) According to press reports, an explosion took place on August 6 at 0200 on a section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline located in a remote, mountainous area in eastern Turkey. Murat Heydarov, who is the Advisor to the President for the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), to [...] |
2008-08-06 13:16:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG AJ GG TU |
| 08BAKU741 |
SOCAR EXPLAINS AZERBAIJAN-TURKMENISTAN OIL AND GAS [...] (SBU) Summary: SOCAR's Vice President told Embassy officers that the September 9-10 Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan joint oil and gas conference will be light on debate and heavy on official presentations, much like former Soviet exhibitions. This format, Azerbaijan believes, will ensure Turkmenista [...] |
2008-08-07 04:28:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EPET EINT PREL AZ TX TU |
| 08BAKU757 |
AZERBAIJAN-IRAN COOPERATE ON NATURAL GAS, CONSIDER [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Azerbaijan-Iran natural gas relationship is expanding and will continue to be strategically important to both countries. This opinion was conveyed to polecon officer in separate meetings with Azerigaz Vice-Chairman, Nazim Sadmed-zadeh; State oil Company of Azerbaijan Vice P [...] |
2008-08-11 11:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ IR ENRG PREL PGOV |
| 08BAKU761 |
AZERBAIJAN SCALES BACK PRODUCTION, LOOKS FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-08-12 04:43:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ENRG AJ GG TU |
| 08BAKU763 |
AZERBAIJAN ELECTIONS 2008: MAJOR OPPOSITION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Three major opposition forces in Azerbaijan-- Azadliq bloc, Musavat Party, and Azerbaijan Democratic Reform Party-- have announced that they will not participate in October's presidential election. While these parties no longer have a stQg base of support in the country, as the [...] |
2008-08-12 10:37:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU764 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV MAKES POSITIVE ELECTION [...] (SBU) During an August 5 Cabinet of Ministers' meeting, President Aliyev made several election-related comments, ranging from monitoring to candidates' meetings with voters to the media environment. The meeting's primary purpose was the semiannual review of the economy (January - June 2008), [...] |
2008-08-12 12:32:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ENRG KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU765 |
AZERBAIJAN OIL & GAS EXPORT WOES: BAKU-SUPSA, SCP [...] (C) BP External Affairs and Policy Forum Manager Seymour Khalilov briefed Embassy officers August 12 on developments in oil and gas production and transport in light of fire damage to the BTC pipeline and the Russia-Georgia conflict over South Ossetia. Khalilov confirmed that the BTC fire was [...] |
2008-08-13 04:38:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET EINT PREL AZ TU |
| 08BAKU768 |
AZERBAIJAN'S LOW-PROFILE RESPONSE TO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-08-13 14:03:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM GG AJ |
| 08BAKU77 |
AZERBAIJAN'S OPAQUE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM [...] (C) Summary: Although Azerbaijan is in the midst of a massive public investment program to overhaul its physical and social infrastructure, the GOAJ does not have a transparent tendering system to administer this program. Formal tendering -- done by the State Procurement Agency -- usually is [...] |
2008-01-30 06:58:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD PGOV KCOR AJ |
| 08BAKU771 |
AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST'S COURT SAGA UNDERSCORES [...] (C) Summary: Embattled opposition Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil left Azerbaijan on July 24, flying to Paris after receiving assistance from the French Embassy. Khalil had sought to leave Azerbaijan on July 21, but poor GOAJ inter-ministerial communication and perhaps intervention fr [...] |
2008-08-14 11:17:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU773 |
IRANIAN STUDENTS IN BAKU SPEAK OUT [...] (C) SUMMARY The Iranian public is keen for more opportunities to engage with the United States. Three Iranian students studying in Baku conveyed this sentiment to polecon officer during two wide-ranging discussions on life in Iran. Polecon officer outlined the ways the USG reaches out to the [...] |
2008-08-15 05:26:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AZ PGOV PREL |
| 08BAKU774 |
SNAPSHOT: AZERBAIJAN-IRAN BORDER ACTIVITY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Cross-border activity between Azerbaijan and Iran at the pedestrian and truck crossing in Astara seems fairly limited but has increased over the past few years. Continued expansion is projected at both locations as Iranians seek more opportunities in Azerbaijan and as trade expa [...] |
2008-08-15 09:10:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ PREL PGOV |
| 08BAKU779 |
AZERBAIJANI SUNNI MOSQUE BOMBED [...] (C) Summary: An unknown assailant(s) attacked the most popular Sunni mosque in Baku on August 17 during prayers, killing three and wounding approximately eight individuals at the Abu Bakr mosque. The assailant used two grenades, according to local press. This level of attack against a mosq [...] |
2008-08-18 12:11:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF ASAC AJ |
| 08BAKU787 |
AZERBAIJAN'S SOCAR: OIL & GAS TRANSIT THROUGH [...] (C) Embassy officers met August 20 with State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Deputy Vice President Vitaliy Baylarbayov to discuss oil and gas production and transport in light of the ongoing security crisis in Georgia. Baylarbayov offered the following observations on specific export routes [...] |
2008-08-21 04:10:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET EINT PREL AZ TX TU |
| 08BAKU789 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES VP VISIT, PRESSES [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador August 6 highlighted to Head of the Presidential Apparat Remiz Mehdiyev the historical significance of the Vice President's upcoming visit to Azerbaijan. The Ambassador also pressed Mehdiyev on free and fair presidential elections, including the need for internati [...] |
2008-08-21 09:31:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU79 |
AZERBAIJAN UPBEAT ON TURKMAN RELATIONS AFTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: In conversations with the Ambassador, GOAJ officials were highly positive about he January 17 GOAJ-GOTX Intergovernmental Commission meeting and the bright prospects they now see to accelerate the improvement in relations with Turkmenistan. Ascribing improved relations largely to [...] |
2008-01-30 13:36:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ TU PREL PGOV ENRG |
| 08BAKU790 |
AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT: I DIDN’T STAND BEHIND [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 19, President Aliyev told visiting British Petroleum CEO Inglis that Azerbaijan is taking quiet steps to support Georgia, although Aliyev himself did not publicly support the Georgian President. For example, Azerbaijanis are repairing a critical rail bridge destroyed by the R [...] |
2008-08-22 04:03:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ETRD PREL AJ RU TR |
| 08BAKU791 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES EPC, CO-FINANCING, BUSINESS [...] (SBU) The Ambassador met August 8 with Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov to discuss a wide range of economic issues, including prospective dates this fall for the next meeting of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Economic Partnership Commission (EPC) and co-financing of assistance projects. Ambassador also [...] |
2008-08-22 04:03:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR EFIN EIND ETRD ETTC AJ |
| 08BAKU792 |
AZERBAIJAN:IRANIAN BANK MELLI A SMALL,ACCOUNTABLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 14, National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA) officials Rufat Aslanli, Management Board Deputy Governor, and Futulla Alakbarov, Credit Deputy Director, told polecon officer Iran's Bank Melli, represented in Baku by one branch, is an accountable, transparent, and cooperative ins [...] |
2008-08-22 04:04:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ MOPS PGOV PREL |
| 08BAKU796 |
TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN PITCHES CAUCASUS [...] (C) Summary: Turkish Embassy First Secretary Cem Ornekol told the Embassy the goal of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's August 20 visit to Baku was to gain Azerbaijan's support for Turkey's proposed Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform. Ornekol said President Aliyev was receptive to th [...] |
2008-08-22 13:23:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PHUM PREL TU AJ IR |
| 08BAKU797 |
SCENESETTER FOR SENATOR LUGAR'S AUGUST 24-25 VISIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Embassy Baku warmly welcomes Senator Lugar back to Azerbaijan. This visit comes at a particularly critical time, during the ongoing Georgia-Russia conflict and in the wake of several public USG-GOAJ bilateral disagreements. While the GOAJ, and President Aliyev in particular, ha [...] |
2008-08-22 14:58:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ GG PGOV PREL OTRA |
| 08BAKU80 |
EEB/CBA SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MERMOUD DISCUSSES [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5. 2. (SBU) In a meeting on January 22, Department of State Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Frank Mermoud, the Ambassador and Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov discussed preparations for the second annual Econo [...] |
2008-01-31 04:02:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD EAID PREL ENRG KCOR AJ |
| 08BAKU804 |
SCENESETTER FOR THE VISIT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The unfolding Russia-Georgia conflict has critical and sensitive ramifications for Azerbaijan. In particular, President Aliyev worries about the implications of the crisis in terms of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its impact on Azerbaijan's westward oil and gas exp [...] |
2008-08-25 15:47:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | OTRA CHENEY RICHARD AJ GG |
| 08BAKU809 |
RECOMMENDATION FOR US-AZERBAIJAN CEIP MEMORANDUM [...] (SBU) Per email exchanges with S/CT and the EUR/CARC, the Embassy understands the U.S. is considering two draft Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP) MOUs with the GOAJ. The Embassy recommends that any MOU list the governments of Azerbaijan and the U.S. as the parties to the agree [...] |
2008-08-26 12:33:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ENRG AJ |
| 08BAKU81 |
EEB/CBA SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MERMOUD DISCUSSES [...] (SBU) In a meeting January 22 with visiting Department of State Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Frank Mermoud, Minister of Emergency Situations (MES) Heydarov reiterated his interest in sending a working level delegation of experts led by a deputy minister to the U.S. [...] |
2008-01-31 04:10:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD EFIN AJ |
| 08BAKU810 |
FOREIGN MINISTER: AZERBAIJAN PRESSING FOR A [...] (C) In an August 26 meeting with the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that President Ilham Aliyev on August 20 had encouraged Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to sign a direct agreement with Turkmenistan to purchase gas at Turkmenistan's border. This proposal follows a simila [...] |
2008-08-27 06:13:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL TR TX AJ |
| 08BAKU812 |
FOREIGN MINISTER: RUSSIAN INVANSION SENDS MESSAGE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Foreign Minister told the Ambassador August 26 that the Russian invasion of Georgia was primarily intended to send a message to the U.S. that Russian power in the region "is back." He warned that Russian insistence on buffer zones in Georgia around the conflict areas will af [...] |
2008-08-27 13:51:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ ENRG GG PREL RS |
| 08BAKU813 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV DISCUSSES GEORGIA, ENERGY WITH [...] (C) Summary: President Aliyev told Senator Lugar August 25 that his visit to Azerbaijan was very important and timely, coming on the heels of a stopover in Tbilisi. Azerbaijan, the President said, was first to send assistance to Georgia and will continue to do so, despite grave errors and "ir [...] |
2008-08-28 03:52:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU815 |
BP BRIEFS SENATOR LUGAR ON CASPIAN ENERGY [...] (C) Summary: The Russia-Georgia conflict, according to BP, may be forcing Azerbaijan to re-examine needs for regional stability and security, perhaps with leaders concluding that a large foreign presence in Azerbaijan and the region is necessary to create an environment of greater security, predict [...] |
2008-08-28 08:57:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET EINT PREL AJ TX TU GG |
| 08BAKU816 |
AZERBAIJAN: GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS [...] (C) Summary: Georgian Ambassador Nikoloz Natbiladze told the Ambassador on August 26 that Russian President Medvedev's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia was a "shocking" figleaf for an "occupation." Natbiladze argued that Russia's goal is to change Georgia's government and gain influ [...] |
2008-08-28 11:20:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG AJ |
| 08BAKU820 |
HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN: PROGRESS AND PROBLEMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 26 President Aliyev announced a pardon of 96 prisoners. Among these prisoners was Rasim Akberov who was arrested in 2000 on coup-plotting charges and sentenced to 15 years. Akberov was widely considered a political prisoner, and also quite ill. Also included in the p [...] |
2008-09-02 06:48:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU821 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR FEARS RUSSIA'S [...] (C) Summary: President Aliyev's International Relations Advisor sees Russian actions in Georgia as "the beginning of a new era," with Azerbaijan's energy export routes, and consequently, the country's independence and sovereignty, ultimately at risk. Russia's acts were premeditated, with a g [...] |
2008-09-02 10:09:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KPKO MARR AJ GG RU |
| 08BAKU83 |
AZERBAIJAN COMMERCIAL UPDATE, December 15 2007 - January [...] SUMMARY: This information is drawn primarily from the Azerbaijani local press, and has not been checked for accuracy. The opinions and policies expressed in this report are those of the authors, not the U.S. Government. END SUMMARY. - ONE-STOP-SHOP - LAW ON INSURANCE WAS ADOPTED IN AZERBAI [...] |
2008-01-31 06:50:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV ETRD ENRG EFIN AJ |
| 08BAKU831 |
UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE DELIVERED TO AZERBAIJAN [...] (SBU) Embassy officers delivered reftel to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Affairs Department Chief Galib Israfilov on September 5. Israfilov said the GOAJ generally is against "no-motion" actions, with selective exceptions. For example, the GOAJ has supported "no-motion" actions on Ira [...] |
2008-09-05 11:45:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UN |
| 08BAKU833 |
AZERBAIJAN: VICE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE WELL [...] (SBU) Summary: Vice President Richard Cheney's September 3-4 visit to Baku was widely seen as significant and timely given concerns about energy and security in the wake of the Russian invasion of Georgia. Azerbaijan's media gave extensive and decidedly positive coverage to VP Cheney's visit [...] |
2008-09-05 13:38:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS PHUM ENRG KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU836 |
AZERBAIJAN'S 2008 ELECTION: ISLAM UNLIKELY TO [...] (C) Summary: According to local contacts, Islam is unlikely to be a significant political factor during the October 15 presidential election. Our contacts told us that while Islam is growing as a religious, cultural, and social phenomenon, there is little political space for appeals to reli [...] |
2008-09-08 10:54:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU837 |
DEMARCHE ON KOSOVO ICJ UNGA RESOLUTION DELIVERED [...] (C) Embassy officers delivered reftel demarche on Serbia's proposal to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding Kosovo to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Affairs Department Chief Galib Israfilov on September 5. Israfilov said the GOAJ's position is "not [...] |
2008-09-08 11:03:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNGA KV AJ |
| 08BAKU845 |
WORLD BANK TO NAME AZERBAIJAN NUMBER ONE REFORMER [...] (C) SUMMARY: Echoing comments relayed by GOAJ officials and other observers in Baku, World Bank officials told Ambassador recently that Russia's real target in Georgia was Azerbaijan's oil and gas assets. Even outside the energy sector, the conflict has had a negative impact on Azerbaijan's [...] |
2008-09-09 12:51:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EAGR ECIN AJ |
| 08BAKU850 |
AZERBAIJAN'S 2008 ELECTION: FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijani performance in assuring freedom of assembly has been positive from the standpoint of new legislation and presidential statements. The Venice Commission positively assessed Azerbaijan's revised law on freedom of assembly. From a legal and technical point of view, th [...] |
2008-09-10 12:22:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU852 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION, GEORGIA WITH HUMAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 29, leading Azerbaijani human rights activists Novella Jafaroglu-Appelbaum, Saida Gojamanly, and Saadat Benanyarly discussed with the Ambassador their concern over the conflict in Georgia and the threat it poses for Azerbaijan. In a surprising twist, they explained that [...] |
2008-09-10 13:48:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ GG |
| 08BAKU856 |
MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTIES SIGN JOINT BOYCOTT [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 5 the heads of the five largest opposition parties signed a public statement boycotting the October 15 presidential election. This represents a step forward in organization for the normally fractured opposition. Discussions with opposition party leadership reveal, [...] |
2008-09-11 11:59:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG RS AJ |
| 08BAKU86 |
AZERBAIJAN: STATE OIL COMPANY COMMITTED TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: In 2006 President Aliyev issued a decree mandating a five-year effort to clean up the notoriously polluted Azerbaijani environment. As part of these efforts, in January 2008 the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) created a new position, Vice-President for Ecology. The newly [...] |
2008-01-31 10:28:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON SENV PGOV PREL AJ |
| 08BAKU865 |
AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT SAYS JOINT EFFORTS MUST [...] (C) Summary. In a September 9 meeting with a USG delegation headed by Special Envoy C. Boyden Gray, President Aliyev said he was pleased with Vice-President's Cheney's recent visit, in which he and the Vice President agreed that a strong bilateral relationship was even more important followin [...] |
2008-09-12 12:59:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TX ENRG TU |
| 08BAKU867 |
TURKISH ENERGY MINISTER FOCUSED ON IRAQI GAS FOR [...] (C) Summary. In a September 9 meeting with Special Envoy C. Boyden Gray, GOT Energy Minister Hilmi Guler stressed that his focus was on solving Turkey's short-term gas needs. Between Iraqi and Turkmen gas, Iraqi gas seemed a more realistic option, and he sought USG help in ensuring that gas [...] |
2008-09-12 13:14:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU TX ENRG |
| 08BAKU868 |
SOCAR STILL SEEKING SOLUTIONS FOR TURKISH TRANSIT [...] (C) Summary: SOCAR continues to seek to find a way to convince Turkey to allow transit to Europe for its Shah Deniz Phase Two gas. However, according to SOCAR Marketing Vice-President Elshad Nassirov, Turkey continues to insist as a prelude to granting transit that Azerbaijan must sell it an [...] |
2008-09-12 13:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU TX ENRG |
| 08BAKU870 |
TURKISH PRESIDENT GUL SEEKS TO REASSURE [...] (C) Summary: Turkish President Gul's September 10 visit to Baku probably focused on reassuring the GOAJ and the general public that Gul's attendance at a soccer match in Yerevan would not degrade Turkey's "special relationship" with Azerbaijan. The GOAJ almost certainly is nervous about a t [...] |
2008-09-15 05:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM TU AM AJ |
| 08BAKU879 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER DISCUSSES THE [...] (C) Summary: Head of the President's Socio-Political Department Ali Hasanov described for the Ambassador a highly successful and productive visit to the United States in August, including attendance at the Democratic National Convention in Denver and meetings in Washington, DC. Hasanov pledg [...] |
2008-09-17 07:23:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU880 |
AZERBAIJAN: LITTLE PROGRESS ON CASPIAN [...] (C) Summary: During a September 15 meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov related that no progress in resolving the Caspian delimitation issue resulted from the latest meeting of the five Caspian state working group held in Baku on September 4-5. He claimed, however, that construc [...] |
2008-09-17 12:52:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL AJ IR TX |
| 08BAKU881 |
DEMARCHE ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHAN ARMY DELIVERED [...] (C) Embassy delivered reftel demarche on contributions to the Afghan army to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Affair Department Chief Galib Israfilov on September 16. Israfilov said Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov recently visited Afghanistan, where he met with a variety of Afghan off [...] |
2008-09-17 12:53:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AF PREL NATEU MOPS MARR AJ |
| 08BAKU882 |
SEARCHING FOR FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY IN BAKU [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 9, the Mayor of Baku announced a list of eleven locations throughout the city of Baku that are approved for the holding of demonstrations during the presidential election period. The major opposition parties have announced their displeasure with the approved sites, d [...] |
2008-09-17 13:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU883 |
AZERBAIJAN: GAS LEAK SLASHES OIL PRODUCTION IN [...] (C) According to BP Azerbaijan Vice-President for Communications and External Affairs Seymour Khalilov, at 0820 hours Baku local time Central Azeri Offshore oil platform workers noticed gas bubbles "about one-third the size of soccer balls" coming to the water's surface around the platform. S [...] |
2008-09-17 13:28:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ CASC ENRG PGOV PREL |
| 08BAKU884 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION ENVIRONMENT WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: On September 4 Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero Ansola of the OSCE Office in Baku briefed OSCE member state ambassadors on the Office's election-related activities, including training for regional leaders (ExComs) on non-interference in the election and the importance of freedom of a [...] |
2008-09-17 13:32:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU891 |
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR CALLS FOR U.S. TO FILL VOID [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 15 meeting with the Ambassador, International Relations Advisor to President Aliyev Novruz Mammadov said he did not think that withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Iraq by the end of 2008 "would be a problem." (reftel) Mammadov also shared his views on a number [...] |
2008-09-18 11:31:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AJ IR TU RS |
| 08BAKU893 |
AZERBAIJAN LAYS OUT A VISION OF, AND SEEKS USG [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 18 meeting with DAS Bryza and Ambassador Derse, SOCAR Marketing VP Elshad Nassirov outlined a sober and comprehensive approach to catalyzing our Southern Corridor efforts. Driven by the shock of recent events in Georgia, Nassirov reflected a level of urgency shared [...] |
2008-09-18 13:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU TX ENRG |
| 08BAKU897 |
AZERBAIJAN ACG FIELD OIL PRODUCTION STILL WAY DOWN [...] (C) According to BP Azerbaijan Vice-President for Communications and External Affairs Seymour Khalilov, as of 1400 hours local time, Friday September 19, oil production from the offshore ACG mega-field is down from a pre-incident level of over 900,000 bpd to approximately 250,000 bpd (NOTE: ot [...] |
2008-09-19 11:16:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG |
| 08BAKU9 |
AZERBAIJANI HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS ARGUE PRESSURE [...] (C) Summary: During a December 28 meeting with the Ambassador, eight of Azerbaijan's leading human rights activists said GOAJ pressure against government critics is rising, with the GOAJ relying on political charges such as espionage, libel, and terrorism to silence or intimidate critics. T [...] |
2008-01-04 11:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU90 |
AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES ENERGY AND [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister appeared unaware that Iran may soon move the Alborz oil rig, while noting that Azerbaijan would respond through diplomatic and legal means if Iran moves the rig into disputed waters. Mammadyarov raised the need for an EU energy summit in Brussels, co [...] |
2008-02-01 12:16:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG PHUM AMGT ABLD AJ IR |
| 08BAKU900 |
ACCOUNTING FIRM EXECUTIVE DISCUSSES ACTIVITIES OF [...] (C) Moore Stephens International accounting firm chief discussed with Baku Iran Watcher the firm's consulting activities in Iran and his personal impressions of the Iranian business and investment climate. He stated that Moore Stephens has been hired to advise several Iranian companies on m [...] |
2008-09-23 07:24:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV PGOV IR AJ |
| 08BAKU904 |
UNODC REPORTS MAJOR UPSURGE IN HEROIN FROM IRAN, [...] (S) Summary: UNODC Baku reports that trans-shipment of heroin and other opiates from Iran through Azerbaijan has skyrocketed. Total heroin seizures by GOAJ security authorities increased from twenty kilos to over 250 kilos in 2007. These seizures accounted for less than five percent of the [...] |
2008-09-23 11:19:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | SNAR PINR AJ AM TU |
| 08BAKU910 |
AZERBAIJAN: NATO TRAINING MISSION-IRAQ DEMARCHE [...] (C) The Embassy delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Affairs desk officer Hikmet Hajiyev on September 24. Hajiyev said he would forward the invitation for the September 26 NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) conference to the Azerbaijani mission to NATO. Hajiyev w [...] |
2008-09-25 08:09:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MOPS NATO IZ AJ |
| 08BAKU911 |
UNODC REPORTS MAJOR UPSURGE IN HEROIN FROM IRAN, [...] No summary [...] |
2008-09-25 08:59:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | SNAR PINR IR AJ AM TU |
| 08BAKU912 |
AZERBAIJAN: WORSHIPERS FRUSTRATED WITH CLOSURE OF [...] (C) Summary: The Abu Bakr mosque, which is an important symbolic mosque in Azerbaijan's Islamic landscape and was attacked on August 17, is closed for prayers. On August 17, an unknown attacker threw a grenade into the mosque during prayers, killing three worshipers. The mosque ostensibly w [...] |
2008-09-25 11:07:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU913 |
AZERBAIJAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IAEA BOARD OF [...] (C) The Embassy delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Security Affairs desk officer Hikmet Hajiyev on September 24. Hajiyev said the GOAJ would consider supporting Afghanistan's candidacy for a seat on the MESA Group on the IAEA's Board of Governors, but his departme [...] |
2008-09-25 11:24:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | IAEA PARM MNUC AJ |
| 08BAKU914 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV: REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT [...] (C) Summary: President Aliyev presented a sober view of the impact of regional developments on Azerbaijan's key interests to EUR DAS Matthew Bryza on September 18. He repeated his longstanding contention that Azerbaijan is "alone" in facing serious regional pressures, underscoring again tha [...] |
2008-09-25 13:23:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ENRG AJ |
| 08BAKU915 |
AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER PROMOTES TURKMEN GAS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 12 meeting with Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy C. Boyden Gray, GOAJ FM Mammadyarov said that the GOAJ was encouraging Turkey to purchase gas from Turkmenistan at the Turkmen border. He explained that the April Caspian incident in which GOAJ vessels co [...] |
2008-09-26 08:08:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TX ENRG |
| 08BAKU917 |
UNODC REPORTS MAJOR UPSURGE IN HEROIN FROM IRAN, SUGGESTS SIGNIFICANT IRANIAN DRUG PROCESSING ACTIVITY (BAKU 911 CORRECTED COPY) [...] No summary [...] |
2008-09-26 10:39:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | SNAR PINR IR AJ AM TU |
| 08BAKU918 |
AZERBAIJAN: U.S. UNGA FIRST COMMITTEE DRAFT [...] (C) The Embassy delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Security Affairs desk officer Yusuf Mammadaliyev. Mammadaliyev said he would have to raise this issue with his colleagues and authorities before pledging Azerbaijan's support for the draft resolution. DERSE [...] |
2008-09-26 11:16:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM CDG PREL UNGA AJ |
| 08BAKU919 |
AZERBAIJAN INCOME TAKES A HIT AS NO SHORT-TERM FIX [...] (C) SUMMARY. As Operator BP continues to look for the cause of the gas leak in its offshore ACG oil mega-field that has resulted in slashed oil production (reftels), possibilities center on either a failure in one of the wells or damage in the underlying geologic formation. A quick fix is unlikely [...] |
2008-09-26 11:35:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG |
| 08BAKU920 |
SCENESETTER FOR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S VISIT TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Your visit comes as the Russia-Georgia conflict continues to unfold, with critical and sensitive ramifications for Azerbaijan. Baku quietly supported Georgia from the start, providing immediate assistance to Tbilisi in the form of food and other commodities, financial aid to ba [...] |
2008-09-26 13:13:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | OTRA NEGROPONTE JOHN AJ |
| 08BAKU923 |
EUR DAS BRYZA'S SEPTEMBER 18 MEETINGS WITH [...] (C) Summary: Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told EUR DAS Matthew Bryza that Russia's invasion of Georgia altered regional security dynamics, and he was open to expanding U.S.-Azerbaijani security cooperation. Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Ramiz Mehdiyev subsequently said that Az [...] |
2008-09-29 10:29:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS GG AJ |
| 08BAKU93 |
AZERBAIJAN'S FIRST LADY: FINDING HER OWN VOICE [...] (C) Summary: The Azerbaijani Government is making a new effort to present First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva as a significant political leader in meetings with senior U.S. officials. The Foreign Ministry, including her uncle who serves as Deputy Foreign Minister, is helping to shape this new image [...] |
2008-02-04 09:09:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ PGOV PINR |
| 08BAKU933 |
AZERBAIJAN 2008 ELECTION: WHO ARE THE OPPOSITION [...] (C) SUMMARY: The campaign for the presidency of Azerbaijan began on September 17, with current president Ilham Aliyev and six other candidates competing. Major campaign themes, to the extent that they are voiced, include increasing the power of the parliament, fighting corruption, and "liber [...] |
2008-10-03 13:57:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU934 |
AZERBAIJAN: DEPUTY MAJLIS SPEAKER SHOWS IRE WITH [...] (C) During a discussion with DAS Bryza, Deputy Parliament Speaker and Head of the Parliament's Energy Committee Valeh Aleskerov complained about alleged European cultural arrogance and lack of strategic vision, citing recent developments in Azerbaijan-European Euro-Integration negotiations an [...] |
2008-10-03 14:12:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL RS TN AJ |
| 08BAKU935 |
AZERBAIJAN 2008 ELECTION: WHO ARE THE OPPOSITION [...] (C) SUMMARY: The campaign for the presidency of Azerbaijan began on September 17, with current president Ilham Aliyev and six other candidates competing. Major campaign themes, to the extent that they are voiced, include increasing the power of the parliament, fighting corruption, and "liber [...] |
2008-10-03 14:16:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU937 |
AZERBAIJANI CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS HOST [...] (C) Summary: The Azerbaijan National Committee for European Integration (ANCEI) hosted a conference entitled "The Russia - Georgia Conflict and Its Security, Economic, and Humanitarian Implications" in Baku on September 29. During the first panel on international security in the aftermath of [...] |
2008-10-06 05:11:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS GG AJ |
| 08BAKU94 |
PROFILE OF A POPULAR AZERBAIJANI SHIA CLERIC [...] (C) Summary: Many young and devout Azerbaijani Shias have identified Haji Shahin Hasanov, the imam at Baku's Dadash mosque, as a well respected Shia cleric. A soft-spoken, intelligent imam with a history degree, Hasanov says there is a Shia renaissance occurring in Azerbaijan, which paralle [...] |
2008-02-04 12:13:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KISL KPAO KIRF IR AJ |
| 08BAKU945 |
AZERBAIJAN: DEPUTY SECRETARY DISCUSSES RUSSIA, [...] (C) Summary: Over dinner October 1 with the Deputy Secretary, key Azerbaijani foreign policy thinkers discussed the role of Russia and Iran in the Caucasus, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and efforts to intensify the U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship. Participants highlighted Azerbaijan's diffic [...] |
2008-10-08 08:00:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ AM ENRG GG PGOV PREL RS |
| 08BAKU946 |
AZERBAIJANI FONMIN AND DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaiijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov affirmed the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation, especially in the context of Vice President Cheney's recent trip and Azerbaijan's "vulnerable" geopolitical position in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Georgia. M [...] |
2008-10-08 08:22:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ENRG AJ |
| 08BAKU947 |
AZERBAIJAN SEEKS TO DEVELOP ACG DEEP GAS, CAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: BP Azerbaijan President Bill Schrader told USG interlocutors that there will be "plenty of gas" for Azerbaijan to sell to Georgia this winter. This is a result of oil production problems at the offshore ACG oil mega-field, which continues to cost the GOAJ tens of millions of dollars in [...] |
2008-10-08 10:27:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG TU |
| 08BAKU951 |
AZERBAIJAN: SOUTHERN CORRIDOR STARTS WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 9 the "Southern Corridor" project will take a huge step forward when the first tanker to carry Tengizchevroil oil to Azerbaijan will begin loading in Kazakhstan, with an expected arrival date in Baku of October 11. TCO volumes heading to Baku in October will be approx [...] |
2008-10-08 14:17:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AZ KZ ENRG |
| 08BAKU956 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DESIGNATION OF ISLAMIC [...] (S) Embassy Iran Watcher delivered reftel demarche to outgoing and incoming Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Security Affairs Division Directors, Yusef Mammadaliev and Nurat Suleimeinov, on October 7. Iran Watcher delivered all reftel-suggested points, and provided the MFA officers with cop [...] |
2008-10-09 11:18:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | ECON EFIN ETRD PARM EUN EWWT PREL AJ IR |
| 08BAKU96 |
AZERBAIJAN SEEKS TO DELIVER MAXIMUM GAS TO TURKEY; [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-05 12:40:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG AJ TU |
| 08BAKU963 |
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DAS DYCK VISITS U.S. [...] (U) SUMMARY: In his September 25-28 visit to Azerbaijan, Department of Commerce DAS Paul Dyck met with GOAJ officials and representatives of several U.S.-based companies, and toured business facilities in Azerbaijan. Business leaders complained of corruption and inefficiencies, despite gains [...] |
2008-10-10 06:08:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EINV EFIN EAGR ECIN BBSR BEXP BMGT |
| 08BAKU968 |
AZERBAIJAN'S 2008 ELECTION: LIMITED JUDICIARY [...] (C) Summary: Local legal experts state the Azerbaijani judiciary has little independence in cases touching on the GOAJ or Azerbaijani elites' financial and political interests. In a political culture that favors personal relations and closed-door meetings over transparent processes and unif [...] |
2008-10-10 13:08:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS PHUM ENRG KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU969 |
AZERBAIJAN'S 2008 ELECTION: MEDIA FREEDOM [...] (C) Summary: Media contacts state that media in Azerbaijan has worsened under a "personally insecure" president, who has condoned a clampdown on influential, critical media outlets. They point to a number of factors behind the gradual, but steady, decline in media freedom since Ilham Aliyev [...] |
2008-10-10 13:55:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU97 |
AZERBAIJANI POLICE DISRUPT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' [...] (C) On January 30, approximately 30 police reportedly disrupted a Jehovah's Witnesses' worship service around noon in the central Azerbaijani town of Barda. There were 16 members attending the service, which was held in the home of Barda resident Nasiba Guliyeva. Guliyeva refused to allow t [...] |
2008-02-05 12:40:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF AJ |
| 08BAKU970 |
PRESIDENT ALIYEV, DEPUTY SECRETARY DISCUSS [...] (C) Summary: President Aliyev, meeting with Deputy -Secretary Negroponte on October 2, lauded the timely September visit of Vice President Cheney and re-emphasized the importance of further enhancing U.S.-Azerbaijan relations in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia conflict. President Aliyev, [...] |
2008-10-10 14:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU971 |
AZERBAIJAN: DEPUTY SECRETARY DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 2 and 3 Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryza met with representatives of the international community and with local NGOs working in Azerbaijan. Representatives of the international community agreed that it is unclear whether democratizatio [...] |
2008-10-14 04:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU972 |
AZERBAIJAN: DEPUTY SECRETARY DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 2 and 3 Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bryza met with representatives of the international community and with local NGOs working in Azerbaijan. Representatives of the international community agreed that it is unclear whether democratizatio [...] |
2008-10-14 04:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU977 |
AZERBAIJAN ELECTION 2008: ALL QUIET ON THE [...] (C) Summary: During a trip to Sumqayit to gauge the pre-election environment, the head of the local Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) told the Embassy that YAP has been at the forefront of grassroots campaigning. The official believes President Aliyev will win by 85-90 percent, with 65-75 percent [...] |
2008-10-14 09:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU978 |
AZERBAIJAN ELECTION 2008: VIEW FROM CIS [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 9 Embassy officials met with Yevgeniy Sloboda, head of the CIS Election Observation Mission and a citizen of Belarus. The CIS Mission has 23 long-term and 400 short-term observers in Azerbaijan for the election. Sloboda stated that Azerbaijan has all conditions nece [...] |
2008-10-14 09:32:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU979 |
AZERBAIJAN ELECTION 2008: ELECTION ENVIRONMENT IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During late September, Embassy officials visited both Azerbaijan's second largest city, Ganja, which is located in the north, and several small villages in the Lankaran region in the south to assess the pre-election political environment. Local officials in both regions seemed [...] |
2008-10-14 09:51:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU98 |
JAILED EX-MINISTER FARHAD ALIYEV REPORTEDLY [...] (C) According to his lawyers, jailed former Minister of Economic Development Farhad Aliyev suffered a myocardial infarction at approximately 0500 on February 4 while in the custody of the Ministry of National Security (MNS). Isakhan Ashurov, one of Aliyev's attorneys, called Emboff at approxi [...] |
2008-02-05 12:40:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KCOR AJ |
| 08BAKU980 |
AZERBAIJAN: ELECTION UPATE, OCTOBER 10-14 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Election Monitoring Center (EMC) and the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety released pre-election, interim reports October 10 and 11, respectively, noting certain improvements in the election process, while raising concerns about the slow handling of complaints b [...] |
2008-10-14 14:56:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV RS GG AJ PHUM PREL |
| 08BAKU981 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITREP#1 10:30AM [...] (SBU) Azerbaijan's polling stations opened largely on time (08:00 local time) on October 15, with observers noting an orderly process with minimal technical violations or issues, and a slow, steady stream of voters casting ballots. Voting in the presidential election will take place until 19:0 [...] |
2008-10-15 09:00:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU982 |
IRANIAN TEA PARTY: A FOREIGN INVESTOR'S [...] (C/NOFORN) A leading Azerbaijan-based businessman with Iranian roots described his experiences attempting to invest in the Iranian tea sector in 2004-2006. Invited in by Iranian officials, he described how two of his ventures were torpedoed by Teheran authorities after they were underway, an [...] |
2008-10-15 09:00:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EAGR PGOV EINV IZ IR |
| 08BAKU983 |
IRANIAN TEA PARTY: A FOREIGN INVESTOR'S [...] (C/NOFORN) A leading Azerbaijan-based businessman with Iranian roots described his experiences attempting to invest in the Iranian tea sector in 2004-2006. Invited in by Iranian officials, he described how two of his ventures were torpedoed by Teheran authorities after they were underway, an [...] |
2008-10-15 09:00:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EAGR PGOV EINV IZ IR |
| 08BAKU985 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITREP#2 16:00 [...] (SBU) During the late morning and afternoon, voting in Azerbaijan's presidential election continued relatively smoothly. Election monitors from the U.S. Embassy, spread throughout the country in 19 separate teams, are reporting that most polling stations are well-organized and the polling s [...] |
2008-10-15 12:23:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU986 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITREP#3 21:00 [...] (SBU) After a largely uneventful day of voting across Azerbaijan, polls closed at 19:00 local time. Vote counting was initiated immediately thereafter. Early indications are that the tabulation process is being rushed, perhaps as a result of pressure from the Central Election Commission or [...] |
2008-10-15 17:22:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 08BAKU995 |
"OPPOSITION COOPERATION CENTER" RELEASES ELECTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 16 the five opposition parties that boycotted the presidential election held a joint press conference and released a written statement on the conduct of the October 15 presidential election. The heads of the parties all stated that they considered the election not to [...] |
2008-10-16 15:45:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 08BAKU996 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITREP#4 10/16 [...] (SBU) Central Elections Commission Chief (CEC) Mazahir Panahov gave a press brief on October 16 to provide the latest information on the election. As of the last briefing, which was given at 12:00 Baku time, the CEC had received information from 70 percent of the precincts. According to the [...] |
2008-10-16 16:06:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU10 |
PRESIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVISER ADVISES POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary: On January 8 the Charge and the British Charge met with Shahin Aliyev, head of the legal department of the Presidential Administration, regarding the closure of Radio Liberty, Voice of America, and the BBC. Aliyev in large part stuck to talking points we have heard previously: t [...] |
2009-01-08 13:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM KHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU101 |
AZERBAIJAN HAS NO PLANS TO CUT 2009 OIL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite public comments by President Aliyev, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has no intention to curtail 2009 oil production in an attempt to stabilize prices, and indeed, all indications are that Azerbaijan will seek to maximize its oil production in 2009. According [...] |
2009-02-06 10:22:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG |
| 09BAKU106 |
FM MAMMADYAROV LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON [...] (SBU) Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov passed the following letter to Ambassador Derse February 4 for transmittal to Secretary Clinton. The letter was faxed February 5 to EUR/CARC. Begin Text: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan February 3, 2009 H [...] |
2009-02-09 13:44:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU109 |
AZERBAIJAN AND RUSSIA: CAN BAKU MAINTAIN THE [...] (C) Summary: Analysts across the political spectrum in Baku suggest that Russia has stepped up diplomatic efforts to lure Azerbaijan away from its political, security, and energy links to the West. They note that this is part of a broader Russian effort to regain its position as the politica [...] |
2009-02-10 12:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ AM RU |
| 09BAKU123 |
OBAMA CAMPAIGN MANAGER BAKU VISIT SPARK [...] (C)Summary: A Feb. 8-10 visit to Azerbaijan by former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe sparked a flurry of speculation and protest that bounced between Baku and Washington. Azerbaijan's opposition press speculated that Plouffe's quick visit was a sign that the Obama Administration was re [...] |
2009-02-13 11:33:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ KDEM KPAO PREL |
| 09BAKU125 |
AZERBAIJAN REGISTERS ADVOCACY GROUPS FOR REFERENDUM [...] (SBU) Summary: Azerbaijan,s Central Election Commission (CEC) approved the petitions of nine organizations to function as "advocacy groups" ahead of the March 18 referendum on constitutional changes. Those approved include the President,s political party, as well as two opposition groups. F [...] |
2009-02-13 13:01:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU126 |
AZERBAIJAN SHAKEN BY GENERAL'S MURDER [...] (C) Summary: Baku is in a state of shock following the February 11 murder in broad daylight of the commander of the country's air force and air defense forces, Lt. Gen Rail Rzayev. He held the rank of Deputy Minister of Defense. Rzayev died from a single gunshot from an assailant who attack [...] |
2009-02-13 13:25:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL RU AJ |
| 09BAKU128 |
AZERBAIJAN PASSES MONEY LAUNDERING/TERRORIST FINANCING LAW [...] SUMMARY: On February 10, 2009, the Azerbaijani Parliament passed an Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) law during the law's third Parliamentary reading. The next step in formalizing the law is for President Aliyev to sign it. This is a step forward in Azerbaijan's [...] |
2009-02-17 05:05:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN SNAR KJUS OTRA KCRM KCOR AJ |
| 09BAKU13 |
PATTERN OF GOAJ CONFUSION OR DECEPTION ON FOREIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the two months from October 31 when the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC) first announced that it may ban foreign broadcasts from FM frequencies until the Council's December 30 final decision to do so, USG officials actively advocated against the decision. GOA [...] |
2009-01-09 07:58:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 09BAKU130 |
AZERBAIJAN PASSES MONEY LAUNDERING/TERRORIST FINANCING LAW [...] SUMMARY: On February 10, 2009, the Azerbaijani Parliament passed an Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) law during the law's third Parliamentary reading. The next step in formalizing the law is for President Aliyev to sign it. This is a step forward in Azerbaijan's [...] |
2009-02-17 06:31:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN SNAR KJUS OTRA KCRM KCOR AJ |
| 09BAKU132 |
HOW IRAN BUILDS INFLUENCE [...] (S) Iranian outreach activities in Azerbaijan rest on a tripod of "social engagement" organizations, including an "Iran Assistance Society"; the Baku-based Iranian Culture House and its affiliates; and the Iranian Red Crescent society, based in "Iranian Clinics" in Baku and elsewhere. Importa [...] |
2009-02-18 11:10:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL KISL ECON EAID AJ LE IZ IR |
| 09BAKU136 |
AZAL: WECAN COOPERATE, BUT WE NEED SPECIFICS [...] (C) Summary. Following up on President Aliyev,s earlier indication of willingness to consider increased logistical support to supply operations in Afghanistan (ref), Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) President Jahangir Askerov, who manages Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD,) was highly [...] |
2009-02-19 10:07:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS MARR AJ |
| 09BAKU139 |
HOW IRAN BUILDS INFLUENCE: CULTURE HOUSE AND RED [...] (S) In addition to operating generous micro-loan and financial grant programs (Ref A), Iran builds its influence in Azerbaijan through overlapping ideological proselytizing, recruiting, network-building. and humanitarian assistance programs operating out of the Iranian Cultural House, Iranian [...] |
2009-02-20 10:44:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL KISL EAID LE IZ AJ IR |
| 09BAKU14 |
YOUNG IRANIANS GET CRAZY AT IRANIAN ROCK STAR [...] On December 14 Swedish-based Iranian pop star Arash Labaf (originally from Iranian Azerbaijan) gave a concert at the Heydar Aliyev Sports complex in Baku. Although similar concerts have occurred in Dubai, this was the first-ever performance in Azerbaijan of an internationally known Iranian r [...] |
2009-01-09 10:05:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AJ IR PGOV PHUM PINR |
| 09BAKU141 |
AZERBAIJAN: NINTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] (U) Per reftel instructions, Embassy submits answers to reftel questions on Trafficking in Persons in Azerbaijan. Point of contact is Conoff Scott Whitmore, phone 994-50-206-5617, email: whitmoresl@state.gov. Estimated number of hours spent on report is 50 hours. Number/letter format follows [...] |
2009-02-23 08:30:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KTIP PHUM PREF ELAB KCRM KWMN KFRD SMIG AJ |
| 09BAKU144 |
AZERBAIJAN: SHAH DENIZ PHASE TWO GAS -- MORE, [...] (C) SUMMARY. According to BP Azerbaijan executives, gas production from the second phase of the giant offshore Shah Deniz gas field will be approximately sixteen billion cubic meters annually, higher than expected. However due to inability to reach agreement with Turkey on a gas transit regi [...] |
2009-02-24 12:35:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENRG TU |
| 09BAKU146 |
AZERBAIJAN: REFERENDUM STATE OF PLAY [...] (U) Summary: Azerbaijan's constitutional referendum, primarily intended to remove the two-term limit on the presidency, is proceeding without major fanfare to its March 18 culmination. Some opposition groups have successfully registered to campaign legally against the referendum, and their le [...] |
2009-02-24 13:19:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM AJ |
| 09BAKU147 |
AZERBAIJAN'S PRESIDENT ALIYEV SIGNS NEW ANTI-MONEY [...] (U) SUMMARY: On 24 February 2009, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed the latest draft of the new Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) Law. Although USG is still awaiting comments from the Council of Europe,s MONEYVAL on the law, the Embassy applauded Azerbaija [...] |
2009-02-25 10:10:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON EINV PTER PREL AJ |
| 09BAKU151 |
AZERBAIJAN REFLECTS, LOOKS FOR HIGH-LEVEL U.S. [...] (C) Summary: Presidential Advisor Novruz Mammadov bemoaned a Russian resurgence in the Caucasus, calling the CSTO Rapid Reaction Force "a bloc of resistance" against NATO. New Russian assertiveness and growing disillusionment with western support, especially on Nagorno Karabakh, is influenci [...] |
2009-02-26 18:38:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RU TU AJ |
| 09BAKU153 |
STAFFDEL SOCHA'S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN [...] (C) Summary: On 15-17 February 2009, Embassy Baku hosted Senior Policy Adviser Chris Socha and Legislative Assistant Jack Julson from the staff of Senator DeMint (R-SC). Staff del expressed interest in energy issues; security issues, particularly vis-a-vis Russia and Iran, and the effectiven [...] |
2009-02-27 10:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ IR KISL PGOV PHUM PREL TU |
| 09BAKU154 |
AZERBAIJAN: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER UNDER FIRE AS [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijan,s Minister of Internal Affairs continues his lawsuit against human rights defender Leyla Yunus, though the case seems to have lost momentum. Baku,s Yasamal District Court may resume hearings on March 2, even though some senior officials may privately be expressing res [...] |
2009-02-27 11:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL KDEM PHUM AJ PGOV |
| 09BAKU157 |
PRESIDENTIAL APPARAT EXPLAINS RADIO LIBERTY [...] (C) Summary: Presidential Apparat insider Elnur Aslanov complained that Radio Liberty's content is unfair and unbalanced, presenting a poor view of Azerbaijan and government officials. Content was markedly pro-opposition during the 2008 presidential campaign, he said. Aslanov, with help fr [...] |
2009-02-27 13:52:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KPAO PGOV PHUM PREL |
| 09BAKU159 |
AZERBAIJAN: POST FINDINGS ON COTTON CHILD LABOR [...] (SBU) Embassy Baku contacted NGO's and local experts to discuss child labor in Azerbaijan's cotton fields in accordance with reftel. Agriculture experts in Azerbaijan note that cotton production in the country has significantly/massively declined since Soviet times, continuing that trend in r [...] |
2009-02-27 14:52:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI AJ |
| 09BAKU16 |
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS REFERENDUM UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijan's Parliament and Constitutional Court have cleared the way for a referendum to be held on March 18 on 29 proposed amendments to Azerbaijan's Constitution on a wide range of topics. While some amendments appear to be benign, such as protecting wildlife, several challe [...] |
2009-01-12 12:33:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL AJ |
| 09BAKU163 |
AZERBAIJAN'S SOCAR INKS PSA WITH TOTAL TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: French Company Total has signed an Exploration and Development Production Sharing Agreement with French Company Total for Azerbaijan's offshore "Absheron" field, thought to contain gas and condensates. Gaz De France is expected to be brought in shortly as the third partner. A pr [...] |
2009-03-02 14:01:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ ENERG |
| 09BAKU168 |
LAWSUIT DROPPED AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER LEYLA YUNUS [...] (SBU) The Minister of Internal Affairs dropped his lawsuit against human rights defender Leyla Yunus scheduled at the Yasamal District Court. The hearing, the first since the trial was moved from the Nasimi District Court, was set to start at 11:00 a.m. on March 2. The announcement about the [...] |
2009-03-04 08:23:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM ECON KBIO AJ |
| 09BAKU169 |
IRANIAN SCHOOLTEACHER RELATES STUDENT PROTESTS AND [...] (C) An Iranian schoolteacher from XXXXXXXXXXXX told Iran Watcher that the vast majority of Iranians (but not necessarily the regime) want good relations with the United States, though most are too caught up with their daily problems to focus on this. She described Iranian intellectuals as "c [...] |
2009-03-04 08:52:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SCUL SNAR AJ IR |
| 09BAKU17 |
ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS DETAINED-- SOME RELEASED [...] (C) SUMMARY: On January 2 approximately 150-200 people, largely young religious people, attempted to protest Israel's actions in Gaza outside the Israeli Embassy in Baku. About 150 were temporarily detained, and 25 were charged with violations of the administrative code. Journalists and re [...] |
2009-01-12 13:26:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 09BAKU171 |
REQUEST TO SOLICIT FUNDS [...] This is an action request - please see paragraph 5. Reply requested NLT Friday March 20. 2. The 2009 Caspian Oil and Gas Show (COGS) will be held June 2-5, 2009, here in Baku. This annual event has thousands of attendees and is the region's largest oil and gas show. COGS 2008 hosted 380 [...] |
2009-03-04 11:35:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT ENRG AJ |
| 09BAKU172 |
IRANIAN FILM DIRECTOR ON IRANIAN ROCK, DRUGS, AND [...] (C) An Iranian film Director told Iran watcher that Iranian society is becoming more liberal even as the regime becomes more "backward." He described a widespread youth culture, embracing all regions and classes, in which underground rap and rock music bands are proliferating and "classic ro [...] |
2009-03-04 12:05:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM SCUL SNAR AJ IR |
| 09BAKU175 |
IRAN'S MONEY LAUNDERERS, SANCTIONS-BUSTERS, AND [...] (S) According to widespread rumor, many Iranians in Baku are involved full- or part-time in Iranian regime-related profit making, sanctions-busting, money laundering, and similar activities. Activities range from assisting Iranian interests "on the side" of pursuing private activities, to w [...] |
2009-03-06 09:55:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL ETRD SNAR ECON AJ TU RU IR |
| 09BAKU177 |
"DO US A FAVOR": IRANIAN EXPORTER DISCUSSES REGIME [...] (S) A Tehran-based Iranian shoe manufacturer and agricultural exporter told Baku Iran Watcher that he and other export/importers utilizing the Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran route and reverse are occasionally approached by known regime insiders or representatives of Iranian security for "help" in br [...] |
2009-03-06 09:55:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL ETTC SNAR ETRD AM RU AJ IR |
| 09BAKU178 |
"DO US A FAVOR": IRANIAN EXPORTER DISCUSSES REGIME [...] (S) A Tehran-based Iranian shoe manufacturer and agricultural exporter told Baku Iran Watcher that he and other export/importers utilizing the Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran route and reverse are occasionally approached by known regime insiders or representatives of Iranian security for "help" in br [...] |
2009-03-06 10:49:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL ETTC SNAR ETRD AM RU AJ IR |
| 09BAKU179 |
IRANIAN SOURCE NAMES "U.K.-REGISTERED" COMPANY AS [...] (S) A well-connected Iranian businessman who owns a Baku-based oil services company told Baku Iran watcher that a company called "INSULTEC," owned by UK citizens of Indian origin, has secretly provided cladding, thermal insulation, and ancillary equipment to the government of Iran in a varie [...] |
2009-03-06 12:32:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | ETTC ETRD ENRG UE UK TU AJ IR |
| 09BAKU181 |
EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 - AZERBAIJAN [...] (U) Subject of proposal and general information: - Topic: Coastal and Marine EcoSystem Management - Relevant Ministries/Agencies: Ministry of Ecology, Ministry of Energy, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), State Oil Fund of Azerbaija (SOFAZ) - Timeframe: 1-3 months, Spring-Summer [...] |
2009-03-06 12:43:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON SENV TSPL TBIO EAGR ENRG AMGT APER AJ |
| 09BAKU184 |
TWO AZERI VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY [...] (SBU) Summary: International Women's Day presented two opportunities to observe the role that women play in Azerbaijani society. The State Committee for Family, Women, and Children's Affairs held an expensive reception which awarded only women who hold high positions in the Aliyev regime. P [...] |
2009-03-10 11:49:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PGOV KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU186 |
AIRBUS PUSHING AZERBAIJAN AND CENTRAL ASIANS TO [...] (U) This is an action/ guidance request: see paragraph 8. 2. (C) SUMMARY: Boeing Regional Sales Director told Econoff that due to recent aggressive action by Airbus and the Government of France (GOF), Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) may soon cancel an order for four 737-900s (part of an August [...] |
2009-03-10 14:48:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON EINV AJ FR NL |
| 09BAKU187 |
ANTARCTICA DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (U) Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Adil Suleymanov at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Suleymanov received the demarche, responding Friday, February 27 to say that he would pass the message to his MFA colleagues who work on multilateral treaties. He did not offer any clarif [...] |
2009-03-11 11:07:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV PARM AORC AY KSCA KTIA TPHY AJ |
| 09BAKU188 |
WHY NOW FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS REFERENDUM? [...] (C) Summary: The GOAJ's announcement to hold a referendum on changing the constitution to remove, inter alia, the two-term limit on the presidency was rushed through parliament just two months after President Ilham Aliyev overwhelmingly won a second five year term in office. The speed of th [...] |
2009-03-11 12:09:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL AJ |
| 09BAKU189 |
MFA ON LAVROV VISIT, NARYSHKIN DIPLOMACY [...] (C) Summary. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Baku March 11 for a two-day working visit that will include meetings with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Mammadyarov as well as the ceremonial opening of a Russian cultural center. In advance of Lavrov's arrival, Pol/Econ [...] |
2009-03-11 12:12:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AJ RS PINR |
| 09BAKU192 |
AZERBAIJAN: NABUCCO PARTNER RWE CAUTIOUSLY [...] (C) SUMMARY: A high-level executive from Nabucco Consortium partner RWE Gas Midstream said the next four to six months were "crucial" for the pipeline project's fate. If the Nabucco transit countries can initial an Intergovernmental Agreement at the May 7 Prague Summit it would "send a strong [...] |
2009-03-11 12:42:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU ENRG |
| 09BAKU195 |
AZERBAIJAN: MFA DEPMIN FURTHER EXPLAINS [...] (C)Summary: Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov described a stark situation in Pakistan and expressed fears of Afghanistan losing control of its southern regions in a February 2 meeting with the Ambassador. Social instability and corruption are exacerbating the situation, and many [...] |
2009-03-12 09:12:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF AJ |
| 09BAKU199 |
RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE [...] No summary [...] |
2009-03-12 12:43:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KOMC AJ IS |
| 09BAKU2 |
AZERBAIJAN: TURKMAN AMBASSADOR POSITIVE ON ENERGY [...] (C) SUMMARY. According to the Turkmenistan Ambassador to Azerbaijan, the November 28-29 trilateral Heads of State Summit in Ashgabat with GOAJ President Aliyev and GOT President Gul was a "historic" first step in energy cooperation among the three countries. Turkmenistan is eager to share its [...] |
2009-01-02 08:32:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TX AJ ENRG |
| 09BAKU20 |
AZERBAIJAN'S DISCREET SYMBIOSIS WITH ISRAEL [...] No summary [...] |
2009-01-13 12:43:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PRL PTER AJ IS IR |
| 09BAKU201 |
AZERBAIJAN-TURKEY: STILL ONE NATION, TWO STATES? [...] (C) Summary: Although Azerbaijan is a former Soviet republic and is still properly considered part of the ex-Soviet space, it is culturally, linguistically and economically much more a satellite of Turkey than Russia. Ties between the two countries are exceptionally strong along the entire spe [...] |
2009-03-13 11:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG SOCI ECON ETRD AJ TU |
| 09BAKU205 |
PARLIAMENT RESTRICTS MEDIA IN AMENDED LAW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 6 Azerbaijan's parliament passed three changes to the "Law on Media." There are also several proposed amendments to the Constitution, to be voted on in a referendum on March 18, which will also affect the media environment. Taken together, these legal changes are likel [...] |
2009-03-17 04:44:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 09BAKU206 |
NGO LEADERS DEBATE REFERENDUM [...] (C) SUMMARY: On February 25 the Ambassador held a roundtable discussion with leaders of Azerbaijani NGOs and youth groups. The discussion centered on the environment surrounding the March 18 referendum on changes to the constitution. The participants felt the public has little information a [...] |
2009-03-17 09:59:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 09BAKU21 |
NAKHCHIVAN UPDATE: MORE HR VIOLATIONS AND RETURN [...] (C) Summary: The authorities of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic continue to pressure ordinary citizens attempting to protect their rights. On January 4 an elderly blind man was imprisoned, and possibly put into a mental institution, for complaining about the police beating his son. Separa [...] |
2009-01-13 12:48:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM KHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU210 |
RESPONSE: DEMARCHE ON AZERBAIJAN'S CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (C) Ambassador delivered reftel points to Presidential Administration International Relations Advisor Novruz Mammedov on March 17. Mammedov received the demarche agreeing that we need to find the right approach under the new administration to constructively and productively address issues of [...] |
2009-03-17 14:49:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM |
| 09BAKU212 |
AZERBAIJAN: REFERENDUM SITREP #1 [...] (C) Azerbaijan's polling stations opened largely on time (08:00 local time) on March 18, with observers noting an orderly process with minimal technical violations or issues, and very high voter turnout with in the first hour. As of 13:00 Baku time, there were no reports of violence or wides [...] |
2009-03-18 08:55:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL AJ |
| 09BAKU216 |
AZERBAIJAN: REFERENDUM SITREP #2 [...] (C) As of 16:00 local time, Azerbaijan's referendum on 29 changes to its Constitution continued peacefully, without any reports of large demonstrations. The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced after 1200 local time that more than 25% of registered voters had already voted across the [...] |
2009-03-18 13:03:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU217 |
AZERBAIJAN: REFERENDUM SITREP #3 [...] (U) Polls in Azerbaijan's referendum closed on time at 1900 local time and the counting process began immediately thereafter. No results are available yet, as counting and tabulation is likely to take many hours. CLOSING PROCEDURES ------------------ 2. (C) In the nine precincts obser [...] |
2009-03-18 16:47:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL AJ |
| 09BAKU22 |
BAKU'S PERSPECTIVES ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH [...] (C) Summary: One of the few positive effects of Russia's war on Georgia in August 2008 was a reinvigoration of efforts to solve the Caucasus' other frozen conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Many observers, and even officials at the highest levels of both governments, felt that the stark demonstr [...] |
2009-01-13 13:00:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL PGOV AJ AM RU TU |
| 09BAKU222 |
AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON LAVROV VISIT, [...] No summary [...] |
2009-03-19 09:17:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AJ IR RU TU AM |
| 09BAKU224 |
AZERBAIJAN'S ECONOMY: TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? [...] (U) SUMMARY: In public February 23 remarks, President Ilham Aliyev lauded Azerbaijan's social development and economic situation with confidence and optimism, claiming that the goals of the 2004-2008 "State Program for Socio-Economic Development of the Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan" [...] |
2009-03-19 10:10:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ECIN ECON EFIN EPET ETRD EINV AJ |
| 09BAKU226 |
DEFENSE MINISTER ON GABALA, ARMAVIR, RUSSIA [...] (S) Summary: Defense Minister Safar Abiyev on March 14 told the Ambassador he did not object to exploration of joint U.S.-Russian use of the Gabala radar station, but was deliberately vague on whether the Russians' lease would be renewed on its expiration in 2012. He also shared details of his rece [...] |
2009-03-19 12:19:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL PGOV AJ RU PINR |
| 09BAKU227 |
AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS TEHRAN ECO SUMMIT [...] (SBU) On Tuesday, March 10 Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited Tehran to formally hand-over the revolving Presidency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to incoming President Mahmud Ahmedinejad, and to participate in the ECO summit. Heads of State from Turkey, Turkmenistan, [...] |
2009-03-25 04:09:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL AJ IR |
| 09BAKU229 |
AZERBAIJAN: FOREIGN MINISTER ON LAVROV VISIT, [...] (S) Summary: Ambassador Derse met Foreign Minister Mammadyarov March 13, one day after Secretary Clinton called President Aliyev and following a visit to Baku by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Mammadyarov liberally shared his impressions of a correct but not warm Lavrov visit and showed a [...] |
2009-03-25 13:15:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | PREL PGOV AJ IR RU TU AM |
| 09BAKU23 |
IFIS WEIGH IN ON EFFECT OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS [...] (C) Summary: In early December, EconOffs met separately with representatives of the EBRD, IMF, and World Bank in Azerbaijan who unanimously expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani economy and banking sector would be able to absorb the twin shocks of the global credit crisis and the sharp d [...] |
2009-01-13 13:50:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD EXIM EINV AJ |
| 09BAKU238 |
AZERBAIJAN: TURNING AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY [...] (C) SUMMARY: All 29 proposed changes to Azerbaijan's constitution were passed in a referendum held on March 18. Embassy observers and other international and domestic monitors found serious flaws in the voting process, but these likely did not change the outcome. The passage of the amendment [...] |
2009-03-30 11:18:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM PREL AJ |
| 09BAKU245 |
AZERBAIJAN: AFGHANISTAN WHITE PAPER DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2009-04-01 10:47:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MOPS MARR AJ AF |
| 09BAKU246 |
AZERBAIJAN: SOCAR: GAZPROM MOU NOT SIGN OF ENERGY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Azerbajian's State Oil Company (SOCAR) has denied reports that its March 27 Memorandum of Understanding with Gazprom implies any change in Azerbaijan's energy policy. Cautioning that these words "must not reach the Turks," a high-level SOCAR executive said that the MOU was prima [...] |
2009-04-01 11:46:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU TX |
| 09BAKU25 |
IFIS COMMENT ON INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN AZERBAIJAN [...] (C) Summary: In early December, EconOffs met individually with representatives of the EBRD, IFC, IMF, and World Bank in Azerbaijan to discuss financial developments, business conditions and the investment climate. The financial experts noted the effects of the global financial crisis on the [...] |
2009-01-14 10:26:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD EXIM EINV AJ |
| 09BAKU252 |
AZERBAIJAN: WHAT FOLLOWS THE RAPPROCHEMENT? [...] (S/NF) Summary. As Turkey and Armenia head toward a historic reconciliation, official Baku is in shock at what it views as possible major abandonment by its closest cultural and political partner. Foremost in the minds of Azerbaijani leaders is the effect of renewed Turkey-Armenia relations on [...] |
2009-04-02 08:50:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV TU AM AJ |
| 09BAKU256 |
AZERBAIJAN: YOUTH ASK U.S. HELP IN EDUCATION, [...] (C) SUMMARY: On March 31 the Ambassador held a discussion with leaders of Azerbaijani youth groups. While these young people agree that their compatriots are largely apathetic towards politics and the referendum reflected a clear turn away from democratic reform, they have many ideas on ways [...] |
2009-04-02 11:27:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM AJ |
| 09BAKU26 |
YOUNG IRANIAN ACTIVIST SPEAKS OUT [...] (C) A young Iranian women's rights activist and writer studing in Baku discussed women's rights issues in Iran with Baku Iran watcher. The activist, forced to study in Azerbaijan due to politically-motivated withdrawal of her university acceptance in Iran, discussed recent incidents of Irani [...] |
2009-01-14 10:53:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR AJ TU IR |
| 09BAKU266 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV ON AFGHANISTAN "ASKS" [...] (C) Ambassador Derse and DAS Matt Bryza raised reftel points with President Aliyev, FonMin Mammadyarov and Deputy FonMin (handling national security issues) Araz Azimov on April 3. Additional Troop Contributions ------------------------------ 2. (C) Underscoring that &we are committed [...] |
2009-04-06 08:59:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS MARR AF AJ TU |
| 09BAKU269 |
AZERBAIJAN: TURKISH AMBASSADOR PLEADS FOR REAL N-K [...] (S/NF) Summary. Turkish Ambassador Hilusi Kilic called Ambassador Derse Sunday April 5 to relay his deep alarm at the coming "crisis" in Azerbaijan-Turkey relations and plead for U.S. assistance to ensure that Armenia continues to negotiate in good faith on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) after achievin [...] |
2009-04-07 04:34:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL TU AM AJ |
| 09BAKU27 |
YOUNG IRANIAN ACTIVIST SPEAKS OUT [...] (C) A young Iranian women's rights activist and writer studing in Baku discussed women's rights issues in Iran with Baku Iran watcher. The activist, forced to study in Azerbaijan due to politically-motivated withdrawal of her university acceptance in Iran, discussed recent incidents of Irani [...] |
2009-01-14 11:05:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR AJ TU IR |
| 09BAKU270 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV REASONABLE ON N-K [...] (S/NF) Summary: EUR DAS Matthew Brzya and Ambassador Derse met with President Aliyev and FonMin Mammadyarov for over an hour on April 3 to discuss Azerbaijan's concern with respect to the impact of the Turkey-Armenia normalization process on the negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh [...] |
2009-04-07 04:40:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL TU AM AJ |
| 09BAKU271 |
AZERBAIJAN: TURKISH AMBASSADOR AND DAS BRYZA [...] (S/NF) Summary. Ambassador Derse hosted EUR DAS Matthew Bryza and Turkish Ambassador Kilic at dinner Friday April 3, following her and DAS Bryza's meetings with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Mammadyarov, the latter accompanied by Deputy Minister Araz Azimov. Kilic was extremely anxious [...] |
2009-04-07 04:54:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL TU AM AJ RU |
| 09BAKU274 |
AZERBAIJAN: REQUEST FOR POTUS LETTER, HIGH-LEVEL [...] (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: Embassy Baku strongly recommends that the USG participate in the June 2-5 Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference (COGS) COGS at the most senior level possible, in order to demonstrate continuing USG resolve in support of the Southern Corridor project and [...] |
2009-04-07 06:45:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ ENRG OVIP PGOV PREL |
| 09BAKU275 |
AZERBAIJAN: GOAJ'S "IRAN POINT MAN" ENDORSES [...] (C) In an April 3 meeting with Ambassador, GOAJ Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov warmly applauded President Obama's and Secretary Clinton's outreach efforts to foreign partners, including their commitment to increased consultation on international issues. He praised President Obama's [...] |
2009-04-07 09:55:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ELTN PREL SNAR RU IR AJ |
| 09BAKU287 |
AZERBAIJAN: RELEASE OF IMPRISONED JOURNALIST [...] (U) Imprisoned opposition journalist Mirza Sakit (Sakit Zahidov) was released from the prison the morning of April 9. Zahidov benefited from an amnesty bill proposed by First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, also a member of parliament, although his release appeared to be complicated by administrative d [...] |
2009-04-10 03:43:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM PGOV KIRF AJ |
| 09BAKU291 |
AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION REVERSES JOURNALISTS' [...] (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution. 2. (SBU) Summary: On April 9, the Court of Appeals in Baku reversed the April 7 convictions and sentences of the editor of the Tezadlar newspaper Asif Marzili and the freelance writer Zumrud Mammadova. The two were sentenced to [...] |
2009-04-10 12:21:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM PGOV AJ |
| 09BAKU299 |
AZERBAIJAN: AMBASSADOR ADDRESSES SUCCESSFUL NATO [...] Summary. Ambassador Derse was a featured speaker at a one-day conference organized by the Romanian Embassy entitled "NATO at 60 Years, an Alliance at Full Political Maturity," which the Romanians organized in their new capacity as NATO contact point embassy in Baku. The well-attended conferen [...] |
2009-04-14 04:55:00 | Embassy Baku | UNCLASSIFIED | AJ NATO PREL RO |
| 09BAKU3 |
CLOSURE OF FOREIGN RADIO BROADCASTS: STATIC ON FM [...] (C) SUMMARY: On December 30 2008, the Azerbaijan National Television and Radio Council (NTRC) announced that as of January 1 it revoked the broadcast licenses for operations on FM frequencies of the Voice of America, Radio Liberty (Radio Azadliq), and of the BBC. The decision came as a surpris [...] |
2009-01-05 12:34:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM KHUM AJ |
| 09BAKU30 |
AZERBAIJAN: BP DOWNBEAT ON 2009 SHAH DENIZ PHASE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Acording to BP Azerbaijan, inability to reach agrement between Azerbaijan and Turkey on the price of Shah Deniz Phase One gas currently being sold toTurkey and on transit of Shah Deniz Phase Two ga has delayed and will continue to delay the deveopment of the Shah Deniz Phase Two projec [...] |
2009-01-15 11:01:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AJ TU ENRG |
| 09BAKU300 |
AZERBAIJAN: MINENERGY DESCRIBES SOCAR-GAZPROM GAS [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijan Minister of Energy Natiq Aliyev described to EUR DAS Matt Bryza April 3 a natural gas swap agreement between Azerbaijan,s SOCAR and Russia,s Gazprom that would provide gas to the North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan in exchange for Russian gas for an Azerbaijani-owned pe [...] |
2009-04-14 08:05:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET ECON AJ |
| 09BAKU302 |
AZERBAIJAN: AZIMOV ON TURKEY-ARMENIA PROCESS [...] (C) Summary. Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidetial Envoy on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) Araz Azimov addressed an exclusive group of diplomats, academics, parliamentarians and commentators on the Turkey-Armenia situation at MFA's Diplomatic Academy on Friday, April 10. In a nearly three-ho [...] |
2009-04-15 08:53:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | |