VZCZCXRO8916
PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHKB #0784/01 2741005
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011005Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1824
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3565
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1473
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000784 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2019 
TAGS: PGOV AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT OPENS FALL SESSION 
 
REF: BAKU 742 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: ACTING POL/ECON COUNSELOR SHANNON ROSS, REASONS 1.4 (B) 
AND (D). 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On September 30 parliament opened its fall 
session.  Pro-government MPs congratulated themselves on 
opening a large new office building.  Opposition MPs 
complained about the arrest of youth activist bloggers Emin 
Milli and Adnan Hajizade (reftel), and the opposition,s lack 
of  information on Turkey-Armenia rapprochement. 
Vice-Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov replied that Turkey would never 
agree to something that violated the interests of Azerbaijan. 
  Asgarov said that the blogger investigation and trial were 
still ongoing.  Opposition MPs put forward a number of 
proposals for new laws for the fall work plan.  Ruling party 
MP Ali Ahmadov replied with a stinging speech attacking the 
opposition as not being supported by the people.  While 
little substantial work was done at the session, it 
highlighted several key dynamics of Azerbaijani politics * 
all decisions are made behind closed doors and without the 
participation of the few remaining opposition politicians. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
SPEAKER OPENS SESSION WITH SELF-CONGRATULATION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (SBU) Speaker Ogtay Asadov opened the parliament's first 
session by congratulating the parliament on the opening of a 
new office building, which will contain a library and an 
office for each MP (previously MPs sat two to an office). 
Roll was then taken showing that 104 of the 124 MPs were 
present (first lady and MP Mehriban Aliyeva was not present 
* she is rarely if ever seen in her seat).  During the open 
debate that followed, several ruling party MPs congratulated 
the speaker on his hard work on the new building, and on the 
general greatness of the parliament and the president. 
 
OPPOSITION MEMBERS COMPLAIN 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) In comparison, several opposition party MPs put 
forward complaints.  Jamil Hasanli of the Popular Front Party 
stated that parliament should be more open to the press in 
its last year in office.  He also raised the issue of jailed 
youth activists and bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, 
stating that they were arrested without any reason.  Zahid 
Orujov of the Motherland Party asked for a working group to 
watch the Turkey-Armenia reconciliation process, as Turkey is 
likely to take giant step when it signs the protocols with 
Armenia in October. 
 
RULING PARTY RESPONDS IN KIND AND STOPS DEBATE 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (SBU) Deputy Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov replied to the issues 
raised by the opposition.  He assured the MPs that  Turkey 
would never agree to something that violated the interests of 
Azerbaijan; and that diplomatic relations between Turkey and 
Armenia would be helpful for Azerbaijan, as Turkey could the 
press Armenia for a solution to NK.  On the jailed youth 
activists, Asgarov said that the investigation and trial were 
still ongoing and that the court would not sentence the two 
without proving their guilt.  He then ended the open debate, 
despite a long list of MPs still wishing to speak, to which 
Panah Huseyn of the Musavat Party loudly objected. 
 
WORK PLAN DEBATED... AND ADOPTED WITHOUT CHANGE 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (C) Debate then moved the parliament's work plan for the 
fall session. Opposition MPs used this opportunity to put 
forward a number of proposed laws to add to the work plan. 
Agazade submitted five proposals, including changes to the 
election code, increased responsibilities for municipalities, 
a revised law on political parties, a new committee to 
monitor the NK peace process, and revisions to the new law on 
education.  Asgarov limited speeches to five minutes rather 
than the usual ten. 
 
¶6. (SBU) All four MPs from the Musavat Party then spoke, 
claiming they had submitted 10 proposals to the parliamentary 
administration for inclusion in the work plan, and none of 
 
BAKU 00000784  002 OF 002 
 
 
them were accepted.  They called for reforms in the 
healthcare system, more rule of law, freedom of assembly, 
increased level of social welfare payments, cleaning up Baku, 
and called for the rights of the jailed youth activists to be 
restored.  Panah Huseyn gave the last speech, stating that 
the opposition will run in the municipal and parliamentary 
elections, and they will be united, strong, and hard to 
defeat. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Ali Ahmadov, executive secretary of the ruling Yeni 
Azerbaijan Party (YAP) and known for being the party's 
ideological enforcer, then gave a stinging rebuke to the 
opposition.  He claimed the economy was growing and the 
opposition had nothing serious to complain about.  He stated 
that the Azerbaijani people believe in YAP and President 
Aliyev and see no hope for the future in the opposition.  He 
said the opposition was only blackmailing the government in 
order to try to survive in the political arena.  Speaker 
Ogtay Asadov then ended debate, and the work plan was passed 
without changes with a vote of 100-3. 
 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
¶8. (C) While there was little important legislation passed 
during the opening session, the debate within parliament 
echoes several important political dynamics in Azerbaijan. 
The opposition holds few total seats and is not included in 
important committees, and cannot influence substantial policy 
changes or  the work plan.  They can use their seats as a 
bully pulpit, however, and do so often.  Parliament is not 
open to the public, however, and the official media never 
prints opposition speeches, leaving the public unaware of 
what the opposition does.  All decisions are made by the 
leadership before the general session begins, oso even 
pro-GOAJ MPs can not make any changes to legislation during 
the session.  Therefore, parliamentary sessions generally 
have the flavor of an echo chamber for whatever the GOAJ is 
attempting to do, with a few lone voices from the corner 
(opposition members sit in the back corner of the chamber) 
uselessly raising objections. 
LU