Aliyev wanted to use American soldiers “for other purposes”

PanARMENIAN.Net - During a February 25, 2010 meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, U.S. Under Secretary William Burns asked for Aliyev's support to continue our discussions about a battalion-sized contribution of troops to Afghanistan that would include a U.S. train and equip program.

According to the cable published by WikiLeaks, Aliyev said that he is aware of this initiative and his foreign and defense ministries are working on it. He said that the fundamental problem is one of “optics”, claiming it was difficult for him politically if it looks like the Americans are only training Azeri troops to send them off to Afghanistan. He said that it would be easier if half of those trained would be sent to Afghanistan, while the second half would remain in Azerbaijan or be used for other purposes.

U.S Burns noted that the President's suggestion would create problems involving the U.S. funding of the training. The Charge proposed that as an initial step, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry staff observe the training of Georgian troops headed to Afghanistan by U.S. Marines. The President thought this was a good idea and instructed his aide to look at this suggestion.