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DE RUEHKB #0609 1100818
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 200818Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0199
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000609 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP KUNR AMGT ABLD AJ
SUBJECT: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PROPOSES ISSUING JOINT 
COMMUNIQUE ON AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON 
 
Classified By: DCM Jason Hyland, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  During discussions over President Aliyev's 
upcoming visit to Washington, Deputy Foreign Minister 
Khalafov presented a three-page draft joint statement to DCM 
for possible signing during the trip.  DCM said the Embassy 
would pass the draft to Washington, but that it was a matter 
for the White House to decide.  Khalafov and DCM agreed on 
the importance of the trip in the context of the developing 
U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship, and DCM noted that the visit is 
also an opportunity for the GOAJ to demonstrate its openness 
to democratization.  DCM and Khalafov  discussed the 
importance of movement on land acquisition for the new 
embassy compound and Azerbaijan's interest in a seat on the 
new UN Human Rights Council (septel).  DCM again reiterated 
Washington's hopes that Azerbaijan will back Guatemala's UN 
Security Council bid over Venezuela's.  We faxed the draft 
joint statement to EUR/CARC April 13.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) DCM met with Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov 
at the latter's request on April 13 to discuss Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev's April 25-28 trip to Washington. 
Khalafov said that Azerbaijan considers the trip very 
important and that the U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship has 
developed significantly since 1997, the last time an 
Azerbaijani President visited  Washington.  Khalafov said 
that the GOAJ would like to see a joint statement by the two 
presidents, and handed DCM copies of a three-page draft in 
English and Azerbaijani (a copy was faxed to EUR/CARC on 
April 13). 
 
¶3. (C) The DCM agreed that the visit is very important and an 
opportunity to put out a positive message about the close 
cooperation that Azerbaijan and the United States enjoy in 
many areas.  The DCM said that the centerpiece of the visit 
will be the meeting between the two presidents, but that 
there will also be other meetings, and the trip is an 
excellent opportunity for the GOAJ to demonstrate its 
openness to concerns in these areas, especially on human 
rights and democracy.  The DCM added that the issue of a 
joint statement is a decision for the White House.  He said 
he would immediately pass the GOAJ draft to Washington. 
 
¶4. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Khalafov thanked the DCM and 
said he believes the visit will launch a new phase in the 
U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship.  Khalafov also thanked the DCM 
for the Embassy's support in arranging the meeting between 
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister and the Secretary some weeks 
ago, which played an important part in getting the 
Presidential visit scheduled.  Azerbaijan has been a reliable 
partner for the United States in the region, said Khalafov, 
and the GOAJ wants to see those relations grow. 
 
¶5. (C) DCM responded that the Embassy would do everything 
possible to ensure a successful visit.  DCM noted that the 
media aspect of the trip will be important as well, and that 
the trip is an opportunity for Azerbaijan to present its 
message to the American public.  DCM encouraged Khalafov to 
read the April 10 White House statement announcing the visit, 
which expresses clearly and succinctly the importance and 
multifaceted nature of the U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship.  The 
USG recognizes both the value of the relationship and areas 
where it can be made to work better.  Given that we live in 
an era of democratic change, noted DCM, it is certain that 
the question will be asked as to what Azerbaijan will do to 
advance democracy. 
 
¶6. (C) DCM also stressed that the Embassy needs to make a 
final decision quickly on purchasing land for the New Embassy 
Compound (NEC) and hopes a breakthrough will come soon. 
Khalafov and DCM both agreed that there could be no better 
symbol of the enduring U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship than an 
NEC that will endure for decades.  DCM also reiterated 
Washington's desire for Azerbaijan to back Guatemala's bid 
for a UN Security Council seat over Venezuela's, and Khalafov 
said he would convey that information once again.  Khalafov 
and DCM also discussed Azerbaijan's bid for a seat on the new 
UN Human Rights Council (reported septel). 
HARNISH