CIA DIRECTOR VISITED BAKU TO PRESS FOR SHIFT IN AZERBAIJAN’S POSITION ON IRAN?
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2007 18:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Political analysts in Baku are debating the reasons
for an unannounced late September trip to Azerbaijan by Central
Intelligence Agency Director Gen. Michael Hayden. U.S. diplomats
remain tight-lipped about the visit. Many local experts, however,
contend that Hayden’s talks with Azerbaijani leaders likely concerned
Iran, Azerbaijan’s neighbor to the south.
Gen. Hayden’s one-day visit on September 28, which included a meeting
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of National
Security Eldar Makhmudov, was not publicized in advance, and few
details have since been provided. According to informed sources,
the CIA director arrived in Baku late on the night of September
27. The Turan news agency has cited "unofficial sources" as saying
Hayden stayed in a private downtown hotel at which special security
measures were taken. He left Baku in the early evening on September 28.
U.S. Embassy spokesperson Jonathan Henick told EurasiaNet that Hayden’s
visit was part of a trip to several countries in the region. Henick
would confirm only that Hayden discussed issues related to regional
security and international terrorism with President Aliyev and National
Security Minister Makhmudov.
Azerbaijani officials likewise declined to elaborate on the nature
or specifics of the discussions.
Some Azerbaijani analysts, however, see "the Iranian issue" as the
most pressing reason for the CIA director’s trip. The trip came five
days before an October 3 statement by U.S. President George W. Bush
that Washington was prepared, under certain conditions, to negotiate
with Tehran on the nuclear issue.
"It is obvious that the CIA director would not travel to Baku without a
serious reason for discussions," commented expert Rasim Musabekov. "It
is clear – most likely Iranian issues were discussed."
He did not exclude that Hayden traveled to Baku "to familiarize the
Azerbaijani leadership with some additional intelligence data that may
change Baku’s position over the issue of military operation against
Iran," EurasiaNet reports.