US embassy cable - 05ANKARA6642

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006642 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, TU, OSCE, AZ 
SUBJECT: TURKISH MFA CLARIFIES POSITION ON AZERBAIJAN 
ELECTIONS 
 
Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 
1.4 (b,d). 
 
1. (C) Following a weak initial MFA statement and amid press 
reports that Turkish observers found no irregularities during 
the November 6 Azerbaijan elections, MFA Director General 
Halil Akinci clarified the Turkish position during a November 
9 meeting with visiting Senior Advisor for Eurasia Steven 
Mann.  Akinci explained that unofficial Turkish observers, 
mostly parliamentarians from the ruling AKP as well as 
opposition parties who had been invited to monitor the 
elections by the GOAZ, declared the elections faultless.  On 
the contrary, the 50 short term and 2 long term observers 
sent by Turkey to participate in the ODIHR observation 
mission found widespread fraud, especially in Nakhichevan, 
before and during the elections.  Akinci said that, based on 
ODIHR's observations, the MFA fears the elections will not 
contribute to forging a national consensus within Azerbaijan. 
 
2. (C) Akinci added that the MFA has come under political 
pressure from the parliamentary observers and their allies, 
who are accusing the Turkish observers accredited to ODIHR, 
and by extension the MFA itself, of "serving foreign 
interests" by criticizing the conduct of the elections. 
Nevertheless, the MFA issued a second statement on November 9 
that refers to the findings of the ODIHR observation mission, 
notes the irregularities observed, and calls on the GOAZ to 
take corrective measures. 
 
3. (C) Comment. The schizophrenic Turkish response to the 
elections illustrates the fear on the part of diverse 
segments of the Turkish political community that rocking the 
Azeri boat will jeopardize regional stability as well as 
lucrative commercial relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. 
Turkish nationalists, who view Azerbaijan as part of a 
greater pan-Turkic nation, are ideologically resistant to any 
criticism of a "brotherly" Turkic country.  End Comment. 
 
4. (U) Ambassador Mann was unable to clear this message 
before departing. 
MCELDOWNEY