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DE RUEHC #6643 0732101
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O 132056Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN IMMEDIATE 0000

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 026643 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018 
TAGS: UNGA AZ PBTS PREL
SUBJECT: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR AZERBAIJAN UNGA RESOLUTION 
 
REF: STATE 21209 
 
Classified By: IO A/S Kristen Silverberg, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  This is an action request.  Department continues to 
urge Azerbaijan to consider our proposed changes to the text 
of its UNGA resolution "on the situation in the occupied 
territories of Azerbaijan" and to delay a vote on the 
resolution, in the hope of allowing us (and our Minsk Group 
Co-Chair partners) to abstain or perhaps support the 
resolution.  If Azerbaijan does not agree to delay or alter 
its text by March 14 -- the day the resolution is scheduled 
to be voted -- USUN should coordinate with our fellow Minsk 
Group (e.g., Russian and French) missions to: 1) issue a 
joint explanation of vote (EOV) in the name of the Minsk 
Group Co-Chairs before voting takes place, and 2) vote "no" 
on the resolution. (Note:  USUN should not/not support a "no 
action" motion that might be proposed by the Russia 
delegation because of long-standing U.S. opposition to &no 
action8 motions. End note.)  See para 2 for specific 
guidance.  End action request. 
 
¶2.  (C)  Failing agreement with Azerbaijan to delay a vote or 
reconsider our proposed changes to the text of its UNGA 
resolution "on the situation in the occupied territories of 
Azerbaijan,8 USUN is authorized to call the vote and join 
with the Russian and French missions to vote "no" on the 
resolution, stressing Minsk Group solidarity.   Specifically, 
USUN should: 
 
--  encourage Azerbaijan to withdraw/delay the vote on the 
resolution to allow time for collaboration on a redraft; 
--  coordinate with Russia and France and call the vote; 
--  issue the joint EOV in para 4 below with Russia and 
France in the name of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs before the 
vote; and 
--  vote "no" on the resolution. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Background:  Azerbaijan has introduced a resolution 
concerning Nagorno-Karabakh in the UNGA under the frozen 
conflict agenda item.  The resolution, as currently drafted, 
is one-sided and counter to the spirit and substance of Minsk 
Group negotiations on a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, 
selectively focusing on elements of the package on the table 
that Azerbaijan supports while ignoring elements Armenia 
supports.  The resolution marks a maximalist attempt by 
Azerbaijan to score tactical points while Armenia faces 
domestic political instability, and thereby risks poisoning 
the climate of Minsk Group negotiations.  The resolution is 
likely to pass due to the support that Azerbaijan is 
receiving from its OIC colleagues and NAM countries.  But a 
unified &no8 vote by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs will help 
minimize the resolution's damage to the peace process.  The 
Co-Chairs do wish to underscore their support for 
Azerbaijan,s territorial integrity, but also for the 
principle that NK,s status is the subject of negotiations. 
 
¶4.  (U)  Begin EOV Text. 
 
The political-level representatives of France, the Russian 
Federation, and the United States, as Co-Chairs of the OSCE 
Minsk Group dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict 
) jointly proposed a set of basic principles for the 
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict to 
the sides in November 2007 on the margins of the OSCE 
Ministerial Council in Madrid.  These basic principles are 
founded on the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act, 
including those related to refraining from the threat or use 
of force, the territorial integrity of the states, and the 
equal rights and self-determination of peoples.  The proposal 
transmitted to the sides in Madrid comprises a balanced 
package of principles that are currently under negotiation. 
The sides have agreed that no single element is agreed until 
all elements are agreed by the parties. 
 
Unfortunately, this draft resolution selectively propagates 
only certain of these principles to the exclusion of others, 
without considering the Co-Chairs' proposal in its balanced 
entirety. 
 
Because of this selective approach, the three OSCE Minsk 
Group Co-Chair countries must oppose this unilateral draft 
resolution.  They reiterate that a peaceful, equitable, and 
lasting settlement of the NK conflict will require 
unavoidable compromises among the parties that reflect the 
principles of territorial integrity, non-use of force, and 
equal rights of peoples, as well as other principles of 
international law. 
 
While the three Minsk Group Co-Chair countries will vote 
against this unilateral draft resolution, which threatens to 
undermine the peace process, they reaffirm their support for 
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and thus do not 
recognize the independence of NK. 
 
At a time when serious clashes have occurred along the Line 
of Contact with loss of life, both sides must refrain from 
unilateral and maximalist actions either at the negotiating 
table or in the field. 
 
End EOV Text. 
RICE