VZCZCXRO1426
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKB #0773/01 2280526
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 150526Z AUG 08 ZDK PAR MULTIPLE SVC
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5836
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHDIR/RPO DUBAI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BAKU 000773 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 
TAGS: AZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: IRANIAN STUDENTS IN BAKU SPEAK OUT 
 
REF: NONE 
 
BAKU 00000773  001.4 OF 004 
 
 
Classified By: Acting DCM Rob Garverick 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY The Iranian public is keen for more 
opportunities to engage with the United States.  Three 
Iranian students studying in Baku conveyed this sentiment to 
polecon officer during two wide-ranging discussions on life 
in Iran. Polecon officer outlined the ways the USG reaches 
out to the Iranian people, and the students insisted the 
United States should do even more to support them. The 
students offered their views on other Iran-related issues. 
They spoke of the popularity among Iranian youth to study 
abroad; told of the Iranian public disgust for the government 
and growing apathy toward religion; conveyed little faith 
that Iran would change its nuclear policy; and expressed 
concern among Iranians the US would soon "attack" Iran.  The 
students also described the government,s campaign to raise 
Persian awareness while increasingly repressing minorities. 
 
Background to students interviewed 
----------------------------------- 
¶2.  (C) On August 7 and 12, polecon officer met with three 
Iranian students currently attending university in Baku.  Two 
were 21-year old men, Samir and Azar, working on politics and 
international economic degrees respectively. The third, a 22 
year-old woman, Nijar, is studying medicine.  The students 
are Azeri-Iranians, one from Tabriz and two from Ardebil and 
their time in Baku has ranged from one to three years All 
three travel back to Iran periodically to see family and 
friends. These students did not know each other until meeting 
in Baku.  Two of the students consider themselves political 
activists, promoting the rights of the Azeri-Iranian 
population in Iran. 
 
The press for more people-to-people exchange 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The students said the USG should do "a lot" more to 
reach out to the Iranian people, who are "eager" for exchange 
with Americans.  The students said the current radio programs 
like Voice of America (VOA)-Persian, Radio Farda, and Radio 
Free Europe have limited audiences for a few reasons. 
According to Araz, the frequencies used for these broadcasts 
are spotty and do not reach large swaths of Iran.  Samir 
argued the radio programs "fail" to resonate with Iranians 
because the programs are irrelevant to them.  The programming 
does not focus enough on the government,s domestic failings 
and does not adequately promote western values and explain 
why Iranians should want them.  Araz said he was particularly 
frustrated with US and western media sources scant coverage 
of the government,s increasingly repressive policies toward 
minorities.  He asked why no one covered the major May 22, 
2006 uprising by ethnic Azeris in the north or the government 
crackdown that followed.  According to Araz and Samir, these 
were the largest protests since the revolution days. Araz 
added, no one is speaking out against the increasing number 
of cases of human rights abuses that Baluchis and Arabs have 
faced in the past several months.  Nijar stated that while 
these stations can serve as a good source of information, 
radio is no longer a very popular source for information. 
She said Iranians watch satellite television, seek out good 
DVDs, surf the internet, and rely on text messaging.  That 
said, the U.S. should use these mediums to target the Iranian 
audience. 
 
¶4. (C) Polecon officer asked the students to submit a list of 
suggestions for improving/increasing US-Iran ties.  A few of 
their ideas are provided below. 
 
--TV programs or documentaries that feature Iranian 
US-citizens.  These citizens would discuss why they left 
Iran, why they enjoy living in the US, and how the US has 
provided them many opportunities not available in Iran. 
 
--US through local organizations set up American cultural 
centers in cities around the world where Iranians citizens 
are residing.  These centers should offer English courses and 
opportunities to go the USG, provide democracy and human 
rights education, and feature events that promote US-Iranian 
ties. 
 
--Fund internet sites that target Iranian young by providing 
pop music, fashion types, celebrity stories and other things 
considered "modern and cool." 
 
--Revamp radio programs to address a wide-range of Iranian 
domestic issues and promote western values. 
Iranians keen to study abroad 
----------------------------- 
 
 
BAKU 00000773  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶5.  (C) The students said young Iranians are "very 
interested" in studying overseas and their government does 
not discourage them from pursuing this "dream."  The GOI 
does, however, have its preferences.  Tehran encourages their 
young citizens to study in France, Russia, Greece, Syria, and 
Armenia.  When asked why these nations, the woman said there 
were a couple of reasons.  In terms of Russia and France, 
Iran has a long tradition of sending students to these states 
and both are seen as providing world-class education.  The 
GOI also views educational exchanges with all five nations as 
key to advancing their national interests as all five are 
considered by Iran as strategic partners.  In any cases, 
students receive government support to attend universities in 
these states. There is a particularly good scholarship 
program for Iranians that study in Armenia.  According to 
Samir and later supported by a local human rights 
organization, about 10,000 Iranians are provided financial 
support to study in Yerevan. 
 
¶6. (C) The Araz chimed in that Iran also uses these exchanges 
for intelligence purposes, as some students are recruited to 
spy for the Iranian state while overseas. The woman, quickly 
added that while she believed the regime uses students for 
such purposes, the espionage was not against host governments 
but rather fellow students.  She estimated that of the 
approximately 5000 university students studying in Azerbaijan 
 about one-third of them, are sent by the government to 
monitor fellow students. 
 
¶7.  (C) Iran is particularly concerned with Iranians studying 
in Azerbaijan and Turkey as the majority of the Iranian 
students are of Turkic background rather than of 
Persian-origin.  The GOI believes these students are most 
vulnerable to becoming political activists that threaten the 
"great Persian nation" of Iran.  According to Samir, the 
government discourages students from going to Turkey and 
Azerbaijan.  They publicize that Turkey is crime-ridden and 
has a high rate of HIV infection.  They also use the tactic 
of not recognizing certain degrees from either state. 
 
The  government of disgrace, 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) On the subject of politics, all three expressed 
disgust with the Iranian government.  Samir blurted out 
thanks to our leaders, Iran is the "grave yard of democracy." 
 He added the revolution was about freedom but after it 
ended, "we gained nothing."  Araz lamented that after seizing 
power, Ayatollah Khomeini and his government quickly reverted 
to repressive "Shah-era tactics," when 
they were not executing "the progressive intelligentsia" they 
were focused on enriching themselves and their friends. 
 
¶9. (C) When asked their thoughts on the current Iranian 
president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, all three smirked and rolled 
their eyes.  Nijar stated "if we want a crisis, he is the 
right man to lead us to it," while Samir just grimaced and 
said everyone thinks the man is "simple-headed."  When asked 
for comment on a recent poll that suggested that a majority 
of Iranians would vote for him again in the 2009 elections, 
Samir shrugged and said, it seems reasonable. He surmised 
that people interviewed were either scared to speak the truth 
for fear of official retribution or they said yes because 
they know their opinion does not matter anyway, a positive 
response is more like saying  whatever., 
Nijar added no one believes their vote in the upcoming 
election will count.  The winner is always decided by a few 
elite factions that are close to the supreme leader. 
 
¶10.  (C) On the subject of the government,s nuclear program, 
Samir said not many Iranians believe the 
government would build a nuclear weapon.  He also said the 
people do not believe the government will stop its enrichment 
activities as they believe it is the "righteous" thing to do. 
 The three students projected the current "talks" will fail 
and Iran will accept more sanctions.  Many Iranians believe 
the USG is planning to attack Iran over the issue.  On the 
subject of impact of sanctions, the 
students believe the economy is weakening but the average 
person is impacted as the government leaders always finds 
ways to make money and stay wealthy.  All thought the economy 
is getting worse for the average citizen, not only because of 
sanctions but as a result of poor government economic policy. 
 According to Araz, "we are not competitive in any field but 
oil."  He went on to add, ten 
years ago, the people could buy a new computer, now they can 
barely afford a used-one. 
 
Iranians are not "religious fanatics, 
------------------------------------- 
 
 
BAKU 00000773  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶11.  (C) The students said that Iranians are not the 
"religious fanatics" that the government portrays them as to 
the outside world.  To make this point, Samir reported that 
Iranians increasingly do not attend Friday prayer or visit 
mosques during other times of the week.  Nijar said people 
spurn religious television shows and certainly "do not avoid 
alcohol or cigarettes." This is particularly the case among 
young Iranians.  Nijar said many of her friends may act 
religious in front of their elders and in public, but among 
friends they are just like other youth in Turkey or here 
(Baku).  They want to be modern-- dressing in the latest 
fashions, listening to Turkish pop music, going on dates, 
dancing in clubs, and expressing our opinions openly. 
 
¶12. (C) Araz said the fading religiosity, stems from 
citizens, general disillusion of the government. 
Amedinejad,s regime has increasingly used religion as an 
excuse to crack down on citizens, basic rights such as 
freedom of "expression, dress, and political activity."  The 
repression is especially targeted at minorities.  And in 
terms of the "clerics," many are viewed as corrupt and only 
interested in enriching themselves with Iran,s natural 
resources wealth. 
 
¶13. (C) Araz also said the regime relies on religion as a 
foreign policy tool.  To maintain good relations with 
conservative Muslim states, Tehran plays the religious card, 
supporting the Palestinian cause, cursing Jews as "dogs" and 
the U.S. as "satan," and supporting an array of Shia 
religious causes overseas.  Samir added the GOI is a 
hypocrite when it comes to promotion of religion as Tehran 
supports secular countries like Russia and when it comes to 
the Nagorno-Karabakh, Iran supports Christian Armenia rather 
than its Muslim brother Azerbaijan. 
 
Access to outside information debated 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶14.  (C) When asked the extent to which the government 
restricts citizens, access to outside media or internet, 
Nijar and Ali were not in total agreement.  Nijar said the 
government is always looking to clamp down on Iranians access 
to outside sources of information while Ali said the 
government does not really care what citizens do behind 
closed doors as long as it does not threaten the regime.  He 
stated, we can "drink vodka and have prostitutes," watch 
satellite television and surf the internet without much 
interference.  Araz agreed with Samir, adding the government 
is particularly lenient toward Persian dominated cities like 
Tehran, Qom, and Shiraz.  Nijar jumped in saying that while 
outside information may be available, the government takes 
measures to disrupt and limit access by jamming satellites 
and applying filters to internet sites.  She agreed with the 
others who stressed the citizens are "very clever" about 
getting around the censoring methods and the point made by 
Samir that the government has all but given up trying to 
remove satellites. 
 
It,s all about being Persian in Iran 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶15.  (C) According to the students, the government is focused 
on raising Persian awareness in Iran.  While the government 
emphasized the importance of religion to the state in the 
eighties, since the nineties, it seems promoting Persian 
"greatness" to the people is a higher priority.  As an 
example of this trend, Samir pointed to the regime,s recent 
release of a new rial note that interprets a passage from the 
Koran as saying something along the lines of "it is only the 
Persian who can solve 
the most complex scientific problems." 
 
¶16.  (C) The three students agreed the Persian nationalism 
message has resonated with the Persian population.  They said 
discrimination against non-Persians by Persians was just as 
bad among the youth as among the older population. Araz added 
the regime also has successfully pitted minorities against 
other minorities as a way to ensure the groups do not join as 
one against the government. 
 
Crackdown on minorities increasing 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶17.  (C) This emphasis on Persian nationalism has coincided 
with a crackdown on minorities, according to the students. 
They said since the rise of Amedinejad, Iranian minorities 
have faced increased harassment from the police and many have 
faced detention and interrogations.  Araz said, as an 
Azeri, he has been victim.  He was detained for six weeks for 
his participation in the May 22, 2006 demonstration against 
the government for publishing a demeaning caricature of 
 
BAKU 00000773  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
Azeris.  He was not tortured or treated badly but he is still 
interrogated every time he travels back to Iran.  Araz 
expressed his frustration with USG and its media "failure" to 
cover Iran,s increasing atrocities 
against minorities. 
 
¶18. (C) COMMENT: It was encouraging to hear three young 
Iranians express a strong desire for democratic ideals and an 
interest in American society.  It was, however, depressing to 
listen to these students express little faith that their 
government will change any time soon to allow Iranians basic 
freedoms and end their isolation from the international 
community.  Even if policies are changed, it seems, based on 
these students, comments, it will take years to undo the 
damage done by thirty years of repression, discrimination 
against non-Persians, scant civil society, and general 
economic failings. Of course, opinions expressed in this 
report are likely swayed by the fact these students are 
ethnic Azeris from northern Iran and not Persian.  That said, 
post will continue to seek opportunities to meet with 
Iranians of all ethnic backgrounds particularly as different 
groups' perspectives on life in Iran may vary.  We also will 
continue to convey recommendations Iranians offer for 
advancing US-Iranian people-to-people exchange. From 
discussions with these students, it seems the USG can and 
should do more to reach the Iranian people-particularly the 
young- through the development of new and improved outreach 
programs. 
 
LU