UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2008-02192 Doc No.

C17572186 Date: 01/10/2017 E5 1

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TAGS: PGOV. UR, US
SUBJECT: EUR DAS KAUZLARICH MEETING WITH AZERBAIJAN
FOREIGN MINISTER SADYKHOV

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REF: STATE 306919

1. SUMMARY. DURING A MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 30 WITH

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER MUSA SADYKHOV, EUR DAS RICHARD
KAUZLARICH DISCUSSED THE PRINCIPLES GUIDING U.S. RELATIONS
WITH REPUBLICS, WELCOMED THE SEPTEMBER 23 COMMUNIQUE ON
NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND ENCOURAGED BAKU TO CONTINUE THE
NEGOTIATION PROCESS, AND RAISED U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT THE
AZERBAIJANI GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC
PRACTICES AND HUMAN RIGHTS. SADYKHOV EXPRESSED
UNDERSTANDING OF THE U.S. POSITION ON RELATIONS WITH
REPUBLICS. HE RESPONDED TO KAUZLARICH'S OTHER POINTS BY
BLAMING THE VIOLENCE IN N-K ON "OUTSIDE" ANTI-DEMOCRATIC
FORCES AND ASKING FOR U.S. PATIENCE WHILE AZERBAIJAN
"BUILDS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY." SADYKHOV ALSO PROMISED TO
REVIEW AUTHORITY: Geoffrey Chapman, Senior Reviewer

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LOOK INTO U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT THE REIMPOSITION OF

RESTRICTIVE EMIGRATION PRACTICES BY LOCAL OVIRS IN
AZERBAIJAN. END SUMMARY.

2. AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER SADYKHOV, ATTENDING UNGA AS

PART OF THE OFFICIAL USSR DELEGATION, CONTACTED DEPARTMENT
MID-DAY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 TO REQUEST APPOINTMENT WITH
APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30.
SADYKHOV'S VISIT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS U.S.
SUPPORT FOR THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATION PROCESS AND
RAISE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT BAKU'S RECORD ON DEMOCRATIC
PRACTICES AND HUMAN RIGHTS. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED
WITH EUR DAS RICHARD KAUZLARICH.

NO SEPARATISM" IN AZERBAIJANI DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

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3. SADYKHOV ACCOMPANIED BY A TRANSLATOR AS WELL AS

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOVIET EMBASSY AND USSR MISSION TO
THE UN, MET WITH DAS KAUZLARICH AND EUR/SOV DIRECTOR
NAPPER. SADYKHOV BEGAN BY EXPRESSING HIS HOPE THE MEETING
WOULD MARK THE BEGINNING OF INCREASED U.S.-AZERBAIJANI
CONTACTS IN ALL AREAS. HE CALLED THE FAILURE OF THE AUGUST
COUP A "VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY" THAT WAS DUE TO THE GOODWILL
OF GORBACHEV YELTSIN, SHEVARDNADZE AND THE CITIZENS OF
MOSCOW. ACCORDING TO SADYKHOV, THERE WAS NO SEPARATISM"
IMPLIED IN LAST MONTH'S AZERBAIJANI DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE. HE CHARACTERIZED THE DECLARATION AS
RESTORING AZERBAIJAN'S SOVEREIGNTY AND EXISTING LAWS ON
REPUBLIC SOVEREIGNTY THAT HAD NOT BEEN ENFORCED DURING THE
STALINIST PERIOD.

4. CALLING AZERBAIJAN A "BRIDGE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST,"

SADYKHOV CLAIMED THE REPUBLIC WAS WELL PLACED FOR
INDEPENDENCE. AZERBAIJAN'S EXPORTS TO OTHER REPUBLICS
EXCEEDS IMPORTS BY 2.5 BILLION RUBLES; RUSSIA, HE NOTED,
WAS THE ONLY OTHER REPUBLIC TO EXPORT MORE THAN IT
IMPORTED. POLITICALLY, SADYKHOV SAID PRESIDENT MUTALIBOV
WAS "BUILDING A REPUBLIC BASED ON THE RULE OF LAW WITH A
MARKET ECONOMY." HE SAID THAT BAKU HAD PASSED A NUMBER OF
LAWS INTENDED TO CREATE A FREE MARKET ECONOMY AND WELCOMED
WESTERN JOINT VENTURES. INTERNATIONALLY, THE REPUBLIC'S
FIRST PRIORITY IS DEVELOPING RELATIONS WITH REPUBLICS ON
ITS BORDERS. RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE
ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. SADYKHOV CLOSED BY INVITING

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KAUZLARICH TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN.

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U.S. RELATIONS WITH REPUBLICS

5. KAUZLARICH TOLD SADYKHOV THAT HE WOULD TARE THE

OPPORTUNITY TO MARE THREE POINTS. FIRST, KAUZLARICH

ADDRESSED U.S. RELATIONS WITH REPUBLICS. THE REPUBLICS ARE

IN A TRANSITION PERIOD STILL WORKING OUT RELATIONSHIPS WITH
EACH OTHER AND WITH A NEW UNION. THE U.S. CONTINUED
KAUZLARICH, WOULD NOT INTERFERE IN THIS PROCESS; THESE WERE
DECISIONS FOR THE SOVIET PEOPLES TO MAKE. ONCE THESE
ARRANGEMENTS ARE FINALIZED, THE U.S. WILL EVALUATE ITS
RELATIONS WITH EACH REPUBLIC ON THE BASIS OF THE REPUBLICS'
OBSERVANCE OF THE FIVE PRINCIPLES SECRETARY BAKER DESCRIBED
IN HIS STATEMENT OF SEPTEMBER 4 (A COPY OF WHICH WAS HANDED
TO SADYKHOV). IN THE MEANTIME, THE U.S. LOOKS FORWARD TO
EXPANDING ITS CURRENT CONTACTS WITH EACH OF THE REPUBLICS
INCLUDING AZERBAIJAN.

6. SADYKHOV CALLED THE U.S. POSITION A "POSITIVE APPROACH"

THAT HIS GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED. HE NOTED THAT HE MET WITH
THE SECRETARY IN MOSCOW THIS MONTH AND HAD EXPRESSLY
THANKED HIM FOR U.S. RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
RESPECTING EXISTING EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL BORDERS.

U.S. SUPPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 23 NAGORNO-KARABAKH COMMUNIQUE

7. KAUZLARICH, SECONDLY, EXPRESSED U.S. SUPPORT FOR THE

NEGOTIATIONS RECENTLY BEGUN ON THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE.
KAUZLARICH URGED BAKU TO CONTINUE PURSUING A NEGOTIATED
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SOLUTION AND AVOID CONFRONTATION. SADYKHOV WELCOMED THE
UNITED STATES SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT NEGOTIATION PROCESS
AND SAID BAKU "ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTED" THE SEPTEMBER 23
ZHELEZNOVODSK COMMUNIQUE. SADYKHOV THEN GAVE BAKU'S
VERSION OF THE CONFLICT, BLAMING THE VIOLENCE ON
ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND MAFIA FORCES. AZERBAIJAN RECOGNIZES
THAT ONLY THROUGH POLITICAL MEANS WILL THE ISSUE BE

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RESOLVED, BUT REJECTS ANY SHIFT OF BORDERS TO RESOLVE THE

ISSUE. KAUZLARICH NOTED THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE AND
REPEATED OUR CONVICTION THAT ONLY GOOD-FAITH NEGOTIATION BY
BOTH SIDES COULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS

8. FINALLY, KAUZLARICH RAISED U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT RESPECT

FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJAN. KAUZLARICH
TOLD SADYKHOV THAT THE CRITICAL POINT FOR THE UNITED STATES
WAS TO SEE REAL COMMITMENT TO THE FIVE PRINCIFLES, NOT MERE
WORDS. FOR THAT REASON, SAID KAUZLARICH, THE U.S. IS
CONCERNED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SEE THESE PRINCIPLES BEING
APPLIED IN AZERBAIJAN.

9. KAUZLARICH TOLD SADYKHOV THAT BAKU'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE

CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND BAKU'S ECONOMIC
BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA DO NOT REFLECT A COMMITMENT TO THE
SECRETARY'S PRECEPTS. KAUZLARICH EXPRESSED U.S.
DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE SEPTEMBER 8 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
WHICH, HE TOLD SADYKHOV, DID NOT GIVE THE PEOPLE OF
AZERBAIJAN A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR POLITICAL
WILL. KAUZLARICH STATED THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS A GREAT
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INTEREST IN COOPERATING WITH AZERBAIJAN, BUT THAT WE MUST
SEE A REAL CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN
AZERBAIJAN BEFORE DECISIONS CAN BE MADE ON FURTHER
TECHNICAL OR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE.

10. SADYKHOV, WHO MAY HAVE HOPED THE VISIT WOULD REMAIN IN
THE NATURE OF A COURTESY CALL, RESPONDED FIRMLY TO
KAUZLARICH'S COMMENTS. HE BEGAN BY NOTING THAT HE HAD
EARLIER SAID AZERBAIJAN WAS BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
NOT THAT IT HAD BUILT ONE ALREADY. THE PROCESS WAS
UNDERWAY, BUT NOT ALL THE ELEMENTS NEEDED FOR A DEMOCRATIC
STATE WERE YET IN PLACE.

11. SADYKHOV THEN DEFENDED THE SEPTEMBER 8 ELECTIONS. HE

SAID COMPETING CANDIDATES DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE ON THEIR
OWN ACCORD, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH MORE
TELEVISION EXPOSURE THAN MUTALIBOV. BAKU HAD INVITED 48
WESTERN JOURNALISTS TO WITNESS THE ELECTION AND OBSERVE
THAT IT WAS OPEN AND FAIR.

12. IN RESPONSE TO KAUZLARICH'S COMMENTS ON THE ARMENIAN

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BLOCKADE, SADYKHOV SAID THAT TRAINS HEADING TO NAKHICHEVAN

WERE ATTACKED BY ARMENIAN TERRORISTS AND BAKU HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO STOP THEIR MOVEMENT. HE CLAIMED THAT ARMENIA WAS
SMUGGLING WEAPONS INTO THE REGION UNDER COVER OF EARTHQUAKE
RELIEF SUPPLIES AND CITED A FRENCH PRESS REPORT IN SUPPORT.

13. EUR/SOV DIRECTOR NAPFER ALSO RAISED U.S. CONCERN ABOUT

THE REIMPOSITITION OF RESTRICTIVE EMIGRATION PRACTICES BY
LOCAL OVIRS IN AZERBAIJAN (REF). NOTHING COULD HURT U.S.
RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN MORE THAN TO HAVE THE REPUBLIC
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REIMPOSE RESTRICTIVE EMIGRATION PRACTICES, NAPPER SAID. HE
ASKED THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND
MAKE SURE THAT EMIGRATION PRACTICES WERE AS LIBERAL AS
POSSIBLE.

14. SADYKHOV PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE UPON HIS

RETURN. HE SAID THAT BAKU BELIEVES THAT ALL PEOPLES HAVE
THE RIGHT TO LIVE ANYWHERE THAT THEY WANT. JEWS LIVING IN
AZERBAIJAN ARE WELL INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY, SADYKHOV SAID,

BUT BAKU DID NOT STAND IN THEIR WAY TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IF
THEY SO WISHED. HE SUGGESTED THAT ANY PROBLEMS MAY BE THE
RESULT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE NEW LAW AND OVER
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION, AS WELL AS A SHORTAGE OF
RESOURCES. HE ALSO SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM MAY BE PERSONS
DESIRING TO EMIGRATE BUT WHO HAVE NO COUNTRY WILLING TO
TAKE THEM. NAPPER POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE
FOR JEWISH EMIGRANTS WHO COULD GO TO ISRAEL OR THE UNITED
STATES.

15. KAUZLARICH ENDED THE MEETING BY REPEATING THAT WORDS

IN SUPPORT OF THE SECRETARY'S FIVE PRINCIPLES MUST BE
FOLLOWED BY CONCRETE POLITICAL ACTIONS. FUTURE RELATIONS
WITH AZERBAIJAN WOULD DEPEND ON A DEMONSTRATED RECORD OF
COMMITMENT. KAUZLARICH THANKED SADYKHOV FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK FRANKLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES. SADYKHOV
EXPRESSED THE SAME THOUGHT AND ASKED THAT HIS BEST WISHES
BE PASSED ON TO SECRETARY BAKER.
BAKER

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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2008-02192 Doc No. C17572186 Date: 01/10/2017