VZCZCXRO7223
RR RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHKB #0473/01 1630521
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120521Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1347
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1377
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3436

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000473 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: EXTRAORDINARY PARLIAMENTARY SESSION HELD 
 
REF: A. BAKU 468 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary: On June 9 the Milli Mejlis (Parliament) of the 
Republic of Azerbaijan held an extraordinary session to discuss 
several important, but disturbing, topics.  The ruling party, ahead 
of 2010 municipal elections, continues to push for a new law on 
political parties which would involve state funding of these 
parties.  In addition, Members of Parliament (MPs) complained about 
the recent founding of the "Azerbaijani Karabakh Community", an 
Armenian nuclear power station, and Iranian interference on the 
visit of Israeli President Shimon Peres to Azerbaijan.  In addition, 
rumors indicate the Millis Majlis may soon pass a new law that would 
restrict the activities of foreign NGOs (such as NDI and IRI). 
Embassy is investigating these claims, as foreign financing for 
domestic NGOs could also be affected.  End Summary. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On June 9 the Milli Mejlis (Parliament) of the Republic of 
Azerbaijan held an extraordinary session.  There were six items on 
the agenda: "The Law on Voluntary Service" - the third (final) 
reading; "A Draft Law on the Changes to the Administrative 
Territorial Structure of Nakhchivan City and Babek District", "A 
Draft Law on the Amendments to the Law on the Status of 
Municipalities" (the first reading), " The Law on Financial 
Accounting", "A Draft Law on Non-bank Credit Organizations" (first 
reading) and "A Draft Law on the Purchase of Lands for State Needs" 
(the first reading). 
 
¶4. (SBU) Before the voting, MPs participated in an open debate where 
several important topics were discussed.  MP Siyavush Novruzov, from 
the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP), said that a new Law on 
Political Parties should be adopted. He stated that the existing law 
on political parties does not reflect changes that have happened in 
the political life of the country since its adoption.  He also noted 
that the new law should include state funding for political parties. 
 These proposals, if adopted, could have an impact on municipal 
elections, scheduled for 2010. 
 
¶5. MP Igbal Aghazada from the opposition Hope Party spoke about 
recent developments on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) issue and noted that 
the establishment of a "Karabakh Community," as discussed at the 
"First Congress of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh," 
which met in Baku on June 5, contradicts the Constitution  (ref A). 
He considered it abnormal to for this community to be registered as 
an Azerbaijani community in Azerbaijan.  He also mentioned that the 
status of Nagorno-Karabakh had not been determined in the 
Constitution. 
 
¶6. MP Malahat Ibrahimgizi (YAP) expressed her concern about the 
reconstruction of the Armenian Atomic Power Station. She said the 
government of Armenia ratified tender results for the Vanadzor 
station reconstruction. Siemens of Austria was announced the tender 
winner, she said.  According to the plan, the project should be 
completed by 2016.  She said the impact of such a power station to 
the ecology of neighboring countries should be considered.  Since 
Armenia is located in a seismically active zone, construction of 
such a huge complex may create a danger for the region.  She said 
GoAJ should apply to the UN and other international organizations to 
investigate its impact. 
 
¶7. (SBU) MP Aynur Guliyeva (opposition Musavat Party)_spoke about 
the regulation of the Internet.  (Note: this follows a recent 
conference, conducted by the Council of Europe, at which 
Presidential advisor Ali Hasanov suggested that the Internet is 
dangerous for certain residents of Azerbaijan and might need 
regulation.)  She said a government body similar to National Radio 
and TV Council (NRTC) should be established to control the content 
published on the Internet. MP Guliyeva said a working group 
consisting of professional journalists should learn from the 
experience of developed countries.  She expressed her concern about 
different kinds of aggressive materials published on the Azerbaijani 
internet servers, saying "It may harm childrens' and youth's 
emotional and mental health."  Others, mainly outside the 
parliament, worry that such actions could lead to further censorship 
of the media and limits to expression in Azerbaijan. 
 
¶8. MP Ganira Pashayeva (independent) expressed her protest against 
Iran's interference in Azerbaijan's domestic policies.  She said 
Iranian politicians and media workers blame Azerbaijan for inviting 
Israeli President Shimon Peres to Baku.  (Note: the visit, according 
to Azerbaijan's press, is slated for late June.)  She said Iran 
blames Azerbaijan for breaking solidarity between Islamic states, 
while the Iranian government conducts a pro-Armenian policy. 
Teheran, she said, has opened borders with Armenia, created 
favorable conditions for bilateral trade and encouraged official 
visits. 
 
BAKU 00000473  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
Voting 
------- 
¶9. (SBU) MPs voted to approve all the items on agenda, although a 
draft law on the "Purchase of Lands for State Needs" (the first 
reading) received the criticism of MPs from oppositional parties. 
MP Panah Huseyn (opposition Musavat Party) said that the citizens 
have the right of ownership and their rights are protected by the 
Constitution (Article 29). Exploitation of the property for state or 
public needs is permitted only after preliminary fair reimbursement 
of its cost.  MP Eldar Ibrahimov (YAP), Chair of the Standing 
Committee on Agrarian Policy said in response that the law will 
consider conditions for the purchase of lands for state's needs and 
regulate payment and compensation procedures. 
 
Comment 
-------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The next extraordinary session of Milli Meclis is 
scheduled for June 19.  The MPs are expected to discuss the Law on 
Education, a draft law on the changes and amendments to the state 
budget for 2009, etc. In addition, opposition newspapers are 
writing, based on a "reliable source," that a new draft law on 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is expected to be discussed in 
Milli Mejlis on June 19.  As of this writing, this seems to be the 
case.  Claims are that the new law is proposed by the Presidential 
Administration and will set strict conditions for foreign NGOs and 
domestic NGOs that receive financing from foreign sources. 
According to reports, NGOs may have to have at least three branch 
offices to be allowed for a country-wide activity.  This change 
would restrict activities, i.e. an NGO registered only in Baku and 
not having branch offices would not be allowed to conduct events and 
trainings in the regions of the country.  Another rumored amendment 
would prohibit a foreign citizen without a residence permit in 
Azerbaijan to establish an NGO.  The experts say that all these 
amendments and changes would create an obstacle for international 
NGOs, including the U.S.-funded NDI, IRI, and others.  The Embassy 
will investigate these issues further and report.