VZCZCXRO5377
RR RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKB #1211/01 2761252
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031252Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3988
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2387
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0692

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 001211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/CARC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017 
TAGS: PREL ENRG PHUM KDEM KNNC IR AJ
SUBJECT: DEPUTY FM ON TURKMENISTAN, IRAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
REF: (A) ASHGABAT 1066 (B) BAKU 238 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER REASONS 1.4 (B,D). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 2 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Deputy Foreign Minister (responsible for bilateral relations) 
Khalaf Khalafov provided a readout on recent talks between 
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, urging the U.S. to do more to 
persuade the Government of Turkmenistan why the trans-Caspian 
pipeline is in its interest, and to engage the GOTX at a more 
senior level.  Khalafov outlined the state of Azeri-Turkmen 
bilateral relations, including delimitation, noting that 
there were many issues yet to be resolved and that the two 
sides remained engaged and in constant dialogue.  Turning to 
Iran, Khalafov said that the GOAJ recognizes and agrees with 
the concerns of the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear program. 
When Khalafov confirmed that President Aliyev plans to attend 
the five-party Caspian delimitation talks in Tehran, the 
Ambassador noted that now was not a good time to support 
Iran's international aspirations.  The Ambassador also raised 
U.S. concerns regarding Azerbaijan's deteriorating media and 
human rights situations, highlighting recent human rights 
abuses in Nakhchivan (septel).  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Ambassador Derse met with Deputy Foreign Minister 
Khalaf Khalafov October 2 to discuss recent meetings between 
the Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) and the Government of 
Turkmenistan (GOTX), Iran and the deteriorating media freedom 
environment.  Khalafov stressed to the Ambassador the 
importance of U.S.-Azerbaijan relations and emphasized that 
continued dialogue and communication between the two 
countries would benefit the overall relationship. 
 
GOAJ MESSAGE TO U.S. ON TURKMENISTAN 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Khalafov told the Ambassador that the U.S. needed to 
do more to convince the GOTX that a trans-Caspian pipeline 
was in its interest.  He added that the U.S. needed to engage 
with the GOTX at a more senior level.  He said that it was 
not enough for the U.S. to say that it supports a 
trans-Caspian pipeline project without taking a more active 
role in talking to the GOTX directly in Ashgabat regarding 
trans-Caspian projects.  He said that the U.S. needed to 
"intensify its engagement" with Turkmenistan in order for the 
GOTX "to understand" the benefits a trans-Caspian pipeline 
would bring to Turkmenistan, adding that implementation of a 
project will not prejudice other GOTX positions regarding the 
Caspian. 
 
AZERI-TURKMEN BILATERAL RELATIONS: NEXT STEPS 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Khalafov briefed the Ambassador on recent meetings in 
Baku with GOTX representatives, noting that while there were 
many issues yet to be resolved, the two sides remained 
engaged and in constant dialogue.  Khalafov told the 
Ambassador that "external influence" from Russia was 
hindering Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan's efforts to improve 
their relationship and influencing Turkmenistan's thinking on 
the trans-Caspian pipeline.  He said that next steps in the 
AJ-TX bilateral discussions included resolving the 
outstanding debt issue between the two governments, launching 
the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Bilateral Commission by the end 
of 2007, and re-opening Turkmenistan's embassy in Baku. 
Khalafov appeared confident that the GOAJ would use all means 
to resolve any outstanding issues and build on its growing 
positive relations with the GOTX. 
 
AZERI-TURKMEN DELIMITATION TALKS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Regarding the GOAJ-GOTX discussions on delimitation, 
Khalafov recognized that both sides were still far apart. 
Khalafov declined to call discussions at "an impasse," adding 
that the GOAJ wanted to maintain the momentum and keep all 
avenues open for discussion.  He said that the two 
governments had decided to prepare separate specific 
proposals on delimitation in order to begin a serious 
dialogue, to narrow differences and to resolving the 
long-standing issues.  Khalafov said that the GOAJ hoped to 
use an internationally accepted map of the Caspian to assist 
the difficult discussions.  Khalafov emphasized that the GOAJ 
would not accept any proposals from the GOTX that did not 
"take into account Azerbaijan's particular geographic 
 
BAKU 00001211  002 OF 002 
 
 
factors, including the Absheron Peninsula."  The Turkmen, he 
said, do not want to take the Absheron Peninsula into account 
in an eventual solution, a position Azerbaijan rejects. 
 
¶6. (C) Khalafov reiterated that the GOAJ will work to 
maintain an open dialogue with the GOTX on Caspian and 
regional issues, noting that resolving the outstanding issues 
would be positive for long-term regional stability.  He noted 
that there would likely be a bilateral meeting between 
President Aliyev and Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov at the 
upcoming Caspian Sea delimitation conference in Tehran, which 
could further discussions on Caspian and regional issues. 
Khalafov hoped that the two governments would meet again by 
the end of the year in Ashgabat to continue discussions. 
 
AZERBAIJAN AND IRAN 
------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Noting that President Aliyev planned to travel to Iran 
for the Caspian Sea conference, the Ambassador told Khalafov 
that now was not a good time to support President Ahmadinejad 
and emphasized the importance of isolating Iran and 
maintaining a strong unified international community approach 
to Iran.  Khalafov said that the GOAJ recognizes and agrees 
with the concerns of the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear 
weapons program.  He said that the Iran should not have a 
nuclear program, while stating that Iran had the right to a 
peaceful program.  Khalafov agreed that now was not the right 
time to give the Iranian President any public support and 
said that Azerbaijan had been the last country to accept 
Iran's invitation to the Caspian Sea conference (see septel). 
 
¶8. (C) Khalafov agreed that the international community 
needed to stand united against Iran in order to deliver a 
strong message.  He said that certain senior figures in the 
government did not support Iran's nuclear program, adding 
that the current internal political process could convince 
the government to change course.  He emphasized that if the 
international community remains united, Iran will take notice 
and that all means should be used regarding Iran to find a 
peaceful resolution. 
 
DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOMS 
---------------------- 
 
¶9. (C) The Ambassador raised the deteriorating media and 
human rights situation, including the recent beating of an 
opposition journalist in Nakhchivan by Ministry of National 
Security officers (septel).  The Ambassador told Khalafov 
media freedoms in Azerbaijan has deteriorated seriously and 
that she would soon propose to FM Mammadyarov steps to 
intensify engagement on political and economic reform. 
Khalafov agreed to pass the message to FM Mammadyarov. 
Khalafov responded that Azerbaijan's democratic process is 
constantly developing and that some developments should not 
be characterized "as a step backwards."  He expressed 
confidence that the situation in Azerbaijan would improve, 
noting that "future U.S.-Azerbaijan positions on democracy 
would be close." 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶10. (C) Shortly after the death of Turkmenbashi last year, 
Khalafov summoned the Ambassador to the MFA to express the 
GOAJ's wish to launch intensified dialogue with the U.S. with 
respect to taking advantage of the new opportunity to engage 
Turkmenistan, and specifically on Caspian delimitation issues 
(REF B).  The GOAJ remains intensely interested in increased 
USG cooperation.  Noting Ashgabat's request for U.S. 
assistance with the negotiations on delimitation, we ask that 
Washington advise how we might be able to be of greater 
assistance in both Baku and Ashgabat, given a solution would 
support U.S. interests in bringing Caspian gas west.  We 
again urge that a senior USG official visit Baku to consult 
with the GOAJ specifically on Turkmenistan. 
DERSE