AZERBAIJAN: PSI POINTS DELIVERED; MFA REQUESTS

UNCLAS BAKU 001283 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: PSI POINTS DELIVERED; MFA REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION ON NEW PSI INITIATIVES REF: STATE 132249 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION -- PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 3. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel non-paper to Vugar Gurbanov and Mahur Gasimov of the International Security Division of the Azerbaijani MFA on August 28. Citing a recent speech by Undersecretary for Arms Control Robert Joseph on PSI and the efforts to improve the capacity of various countries, MFA officials requested additional information regarding what type of assistance would be provided and to which countries, asking if this would also include Azerbaijan. In addition, the officials requested information on upcoming PSI-related international events and details on any other PSI-related events in which Azerbaijan would be able to participate. Finally, Gurbanov queried PolOff on whether there would be any new PSI initiatives introduced in the coming months, noting that in his speech U/S Joseph mentioned that there would be "new tools" available as part of PSI. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department guidance and information regarding the requests for additional information made by MFA officials. The MFA is clearly interested in additional details and may be preparing for a more active approach to PSI initiatives. HYLAND