VZCZCXRO9295
RR RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHSR
DE RUEHKB #0455/01 0821317
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231317Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9946
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0416

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000455 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/SNEC 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS ASEC AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH: CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS 
CONTINUE 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (U) Militant rhetoric on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 
during the past week followed reports of ceasefire 
violations and an announcement that three soldiers were 
convicted of treason for collusion with Armenia. Meanwhile 
President Aliyev called on the Armenians to accept the 
useful suggestions of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.  Below is 
the first of regular Embassy Baku snapshot reporting on 
Nagorno-Karabakh related incidents and statements in 
Azerbaijan. 
 
TWO SOLDIERS KILLED ON LOC 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Ceasefire violations along the line of contact have 
become increasingly frequent in the past week.  Azerbaijani 
press reports that Armenian troops have been firing near the 
villages of Gazakh, Aghdam, Terter, and other front-line 
villages.  The Ministry of Defense reported that during 
March 18-19, Armenian soldiers twice attempted forward 
movement from their current positions.  Reports indicate 
fatalities on both sides, including two Azerbaijani soldiers 
and one wounded Azerbaijani soldier.  No information was 
available regarding Armenian casualties.  Independent TV 
station ANS sent a correspondent to the area to broadcast 
footage on March 19, during which gunfire could be heard in 
the background. 
 
THREE SOLDIERS CONVICTED FOR TREASON 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U) The Ministry of National Security just released 
information that on October 7, 2005, three soldiers (one 
junior sergeant and two privates) were convicted on charges 
of treason and sentenced to 11 to 12 years' prison time. 
The press reported that the soldiers deserted to the 
Armenian side in February 2005 and were trained from 
February to May 2005 to set off explosives along the Baku- 
Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the president's usual travel 
routes, and the Baku airport.  The three were returned to 
Azerbaijan from Armenian "camps" with the assistance of the 
International Committee of the Red Cross but according to 
reports, did not detail the "training" they allegedly had 
received.  The MNS did not release details as to how the 
alleged plot was uncovered.  The soldiers were convicted on 
charges of treason, desertion, violation of the code of 
military conduct, and the misuse of authority during 
engagement or battle. 
 
KLO PROTESTS ARMENIAN PRESENCE AT CONFERENCE 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Against this backdrop, on March 16 the Karabakh 
Liberation Organization (KLO) attempted to stage a protest 
at the Radisson Park Inn Hotel because of the participation 
of an Armenian delegation in an OSCE transportation 
conference.  Police prevented the protest and detained 
several members who had entered the hotel until the 
conference finished on March 17.  A USG representative at 
the conference told EconOff that the participants were 
unaware of the scuffle and that the only mention of the 
incident at the press conference for the event was a 
question on who issued visas to the Armenians. 
 
OFFICIAL RHETORIC CONTINUES 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) In a speech at a Novruz event on March 21, President 
Aliyev stated clearly the territorial integrity of 
Azerbaijan is not up for negotiation and said the patience 
of the Azerbaijani people is not without limit.  He blamed 
Armenia for not being constructive and discussed the damage 
Armenia may face due to its "self-isolation" from regional 
projects.  Similarly, the President's International 
Relations Advisor Novruz Mammadov also was reported as 
saying that Azerbaijan may change its viewpoint on 
negotiations if Armenia maintains its "radical" position. 
However, Mammadov also did not exclude the possibility of 
new meetings between the Foreign Ministers and possibly even 
the Presidents in 2006.  Press reports over the weekend also 
speculated about a direct correlation between perceived 
intensified USG efforts to negotiate a settlement as the 
chances for conflict with Iran increase. 
 
COUNTER-NOTE SOUNDED AT WORLD AZERI CONGRESS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
BAKU 00000455  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) During a speech on a number of topics, President 
Aliyev voiced conciliatory themes on a day when EUR 
Assistant Secretary Dan Fried was meeting with Armenian 
President Kocharian.  Aliyev said Azerbaijan will remain 
"loyal" to the negotiations.  He said Azerbaijan wants to 
solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem through peaceful means. 
Once the occupied territories were regained, he pledged to 
rebuild the infrastructure.  Aliyev called on Armenia to 
agree on the very useful suggestions of the Minsk Group Co- 
Chairs. 
 
HARNISH