Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU1272
2006-08-29 03:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

FIRST LADY MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA PLANS U.S. VISIT THIS

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR KPAO SCUL AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0124
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #1272 2410329
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 290329Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1153
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0163
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001272 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR AND R

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KPAO SCUL AJ
SUBJECT: FIRST LADY MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA PLANS U.S. VISIT THIS
FALL

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001272

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR AND R

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KPAO SCUL AJ
SUBJECT: FIRST LADY MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA PLANS U.S. VISIT THIS
FALL

Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse per 1.4 (b,d).


1. (U) This is an action request; see para 4.


2. (SBU) During an August 28 lunch meeting with the
Ambassador, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva said that neither she
nor President Aliyev will travel to New York for the United
Nations General Assembly. She said that President Aliyev has
other commitments at that time. Mrs. Aliyeva added that she
very much regrets thatQe will be unable to attend the White
House Conference on Global Literacy, and hopes that she will
have the opportunity to meet U.S. First Lady Laura Bush when
she travels to the U.S. later this fall.


3. (SBU) Mrs. Aliyeva said she plans an official trip to the
United States sometime between early November and late
December. While in the United States, Mrs. Aliyeva plans to
conduct a mix of official and personal business. She said
she is thinking of a two or three city tour, over a period of
five to six days to include, possibly, New York, Los Angeles
and Washington, DC. Mrs. Aliyeva said that she definitely
would like to include a stop in Washington on her agenda, and
very much would like to meet Mrs. Bush at that time. As
chair of the U.S.-Azerbaijan interparliamentary working
group, Mrs. Aliyeva said she also would like to meet with her
U.S. counterparts on the Hill, as well as other interested
members of Congress. Her trip will have a cultural focus,
but she has not yet decided on specific cultural events to be
included in her program. Highlighting the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation's ability to organize conferences, Mrs. Aliyeva
also discussed with the Ambassador the idea of a possible
international conference in Baku in the spring with religious
tolerance, a value the U.S. and Azerbaijan share, as the
theme.


4. (C) Comment and Action Requested: Mrs. Aliyeva is widely
regarded as an up-and-coming player on Azerbaijan's political
scene. As a newly elected Member of Parliament and head of
Parliament's U.S.-Azerbaijan group, Chair of the extremely
influential Heydar Aliyev Foundation (that promotes
Azerbaijan's culture and history, and is engaged in an
intensive campaign to build schools throughout Azerbaijan),
and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Mrs. Aliyeva exerts
influence and power in a broad range of Azerbaijani circles.
She expressed strong interest in significantly deepening
U.S.-Azerbaijan cultural and people-to-people ties and sought
the Ambassador's assistance in planning her visit, including
with respect to dates that might permit her to meet U.S.
First Lady Laura Bush. Her upcoming visit presents an
excellent opportunity to further advance the bilateral
relationship. We welcome Washington's input and support for
Aliyeva's visit and will send our ideas shortly. We also
would welcome, in particular, R's support in developing the
idea of an international conference on religious tolerance.
DERSE