VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0269/01 0521042
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD95E21F MSI3030 634)
P 211042Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9667
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE

UNCLAS BAKU 000269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PLS PASS TO USAID 
 
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PREL PGOV ECON PTER AJ
SUBJECT: NEW SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE 
PRIORITIES WITH AMBASSADOR 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 16, Ambassador and USAID 
Country Coordinator called on the new Speaker of Parliament, 
Ogtay Asadov.  Asadov and Ambassador agreed on the need for 
May parliamentary rerun elections to be democratic and 
expressed confidence that Parliament would exercise a greater 
role of authority in the GOAJ.  Asadov welcomed USG 
assistance to strengthen Parliament, but noted that 
Parliament already acted as an independent, professional, and 
representative body.  He listed to Ambassador several of the 
projects he had in mind to improve the physical 
infrastructure of Parliament and improve the well-being of 
MPs.  He also reported that discussions were ongoing as to 
this year's legislative calendar, but that the Parliament 
would consider amendments to the Law on Education, create a 
new pension system, and would also pass a new money 
laundering law by June.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador congratulated Asadov on his new position 
and welcomed closer cooperation between the USG and the Milli 
Mejlis (Parliament).  Ambassador highlighted the need for the 
May 13 rerun elections of ten parliamentary seats to be run 
democratically.  Asadov agreed, affirming that the reruns 
would be democratic and reporting that measures had already 
been taken against election and local government officials 
who had committed fraud in November.  He said the GOAJ was in 
a time of transition and could not immediately reach the 
level of democracy present in Western Europe, but he 
expressed confidence that the GOAJ would continue to make 
progress towards this goal.  Asadov asked for greater 
cooperation between the US Congress and the Milli Mejlis, 
including more opportunities for Azerbaijani MPs to visit the 
United States.  Ambassador agreed that closer ties between 
the two legislative bodies was important, but that it was 
also important for the USG overall to develop closer ties 
with the Milli Mejlis. 
 
SPEAKER WELCOMES USG ASSISTANCE 
------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador underscored the need for Parliament to 
exercise greater independence from the Presidential Apparat 
and for MPs to represent their constituents in a deliberative 
manner.  With Parliament's greater diversity and the 
introduction of single-member mandates, the timing was ripe 
for Parliament to exercise greater authority.  Ambassador 
highlighted USG programs that could assist with this task, 
specifically the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program 
and several USAID projects currently under development. 
These programs, he said, would help MPs be more in touch with 
their constituents by establishing constituency offices in 
the regions and would help develop professional staff and 
legislative drafting expertise.  USAID Country Coordinator 
also highlighted the specifics of AID's ongoing projects to 
help strengthen Parliament. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Asadov responded that the GOAJ would welcome USG 
assistance.  He said that MPs are already responsive to their 
constituents, as reflected by the fact that 60 percent of the 
Parliament was new.  The MPs who lost their seats, he 
explained, had lost because they were not in touch with their 
voters.  Many MPs already have offices out in the regions and 
keep working hours, but he said he would be receptive to USG 
help to set up offices for those who do not.  He commented 
that he also was working to build the professionalism of 
Parliament, and had begun to do so by addressing 
infrastructural needs.  Highlighting his impressions from his 
recent visit to the Turkish Parliament, he said it was his 
goal to give all MPs normal working conditions, including 
renovating offices and providing members with computers.  In 
response to the Ambassador's suggestion that he could also 
work to improve the capacity of the committees to carry out 
the day-to-day work of the Parliament, Asadov responded that 
new personnel were being hired.  Asadov also noted that it 
was important for MPs to be well-rounded; he said he intended 
to work on healthcare, sports, and recreational programs for 
MPs and the staff. 
 
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Asadov also remarked on his plans for the coming 
year's legislative calendar.  He said in the past, the goal 
was quantity of laws, not quality.  Now, he said, the 
Parliament would look at Azerbaijan's laws and pass 
amendments to modernize them and ensure that they conform 
with international standards.  He specifically highlighted 
that Parliament would be addressing the Law on Education and 
a new pension system.  Ambassador asked Asadov to consider 
passing a money laundering law that USG experts have helped 
draft.  Ambassador underscored the importance of the law for 
 
fighting corruption and terrorist financing.  Asadov 
responded that a working group had already been established 
on the law and it would likely be adopted by June. 
Ambassador also asked Asadov to consider carefully ODIHR's 
recommendations on amendments to election legislation. 
Asadov's assistant responded that the GOAJ was already 
working with the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and 
would formally meet in April to discuss necessary changes. 
HARNISH