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In Sochi, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan had put forth a proposal for specifying a definite date for a referendum on Nagorno-Karabakh’s final status, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, according to a leaked document dated Feb. 25, 2010, and released by WikiLeaks on Sunday.
This particular document outlines a meeting between US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns and Aliyev, in which the parties discuss the OSCE Minsk Group process in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, proposals to pressure Armenia to move forward in this process and Russia’s role.
The leaked document reads, in part:
“3. (C) Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns began his hour-long meeting with President Ilham Aliyev by stressing that he was sent with the simple message that Washington wants to build our bilateral relations and create a stronger partnership. He then offered his condolences for the three Azeri soldiers killed on the Line of Contact on February 18. Aliyev responded that such events show that there is no peace, no peace treaty and no peacekeepers enforcing the cease-fire. He worried more such incidents could happen. Burns commented that such incidents underscored the urgency of finding a political solution on Nagorno-Karabakh.
“4. (C) The balance of Aliyev’s comments sought to convey that he was ready to move forward in the Minsk Group Process, but that international pressure would be needed if Armenia was to move forward. He said that it is now time to find a final resolution, but Armenian President Sargsian wants to walk away from the process. “I told the co-chairs that Armenia wants to delay as long as possible and escape at the end.”” He said that Azerbaijan was prepared to do its part to propel the talks forward. “Now we will try to be even more flexible.”
“5. (C) Aliyev outlined several steps to persuade Armenia to agree to the Minsk Group Basic Principles:
— the three co-chair countries should consolidate their efforts at a senior-level,
— (C) the three co-chair countries should send a strong message that the independence of NK is not under review, and
— (C) if these new proposals are not accepted, there should be consequences in terms of international isolation, especially in the form of Russia’s curtailing some of its economic support for Armenia.
“6. (C) Aliyev noted that at Sochi, President Sargsian had inserted a proposal for specifying a definite date for a referendum or plebiscite on NK final status. This, Aliyev argued, undermined the entire framework of the agreement, which is premised on an eventual referendum ) with no definite timeframe ) in exchange for legalizing “the illegally established regime in NK.”” He also noted that Armenia is vulnerable to isolation because it is dependent upon remittances from its diaspora, as well as imports of gas and electricity. “After 18 years of negotiation, we have tested all options. If this phase (of Minsk Group talks) ends, what is next?” the President asked aloud.
“7. (C) In response to U/S Burns’ question about the Russian role in the NK talks, Aliyev responded that he was convinced that Medvedev’s efforts have been sincere. He said that Medvedev has personally met with the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents five times. Thus any failure to make progress on this issue will damage Medvedev’s credibility. He said that at Sochi, Medvedev tried to persuade Sargsian to achieve a breakthrough. He added, however, that it was strange that with so much pressure from Moscow and Lavrov’s visit to Yeveran, the Armenians not only resisted progress, but actually backtracked on previously-agreed items. In response to a question, Aliyev said that he believes that PM Putin has his own separate opinion about the desirability of an NK resolution. “I have no evidence, but I can feel this,” Aliyev remarked.
“8. (C) Aliyev said that he considers Medvedev “a modern, new-generation intellectual,” surrounded by people whom he does not control. He said that he has personally witnessed Medvedev taking decisions that then required further approval before they were implemented, referring specifically to a border demarcation agreement that he had agreed with Medvedev only to have it stymied by “”others,”” presumably in the prime ministerial office. He added, “Many high-ranking officials don’t recognize (Medvedev) as a leader.” He said that there are signs of a strong confrontation between the teams of the two men, although not yet between Putin and Medvedev personally. “We have a saying in Azeri, ‘Two heads cannot be boiled in one pot'” (crude street slang suggesting that two leaders are spoiling for a fight).”