AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV REQUESTS ADDITIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001315 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR DAS MATTHEW BRYZA NSC FOR MATTHEW PALMER AND CHRIS CAMPANOVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016 TAGS: PREL PINR SENV UNGA AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV REQUESTS ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON NATURAL RESOURCE REVENUE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE REF: STATE 146218 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE, REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadayarov told the Ambassador on September 7 that it would be an "honor and a privilege" for Azerbaijan to participate in the roundtable with President Bush on Natural Resources and Social Development. Azerbaijan is eager to share its very positive experience with its State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) and as a leader in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI),and given that experience would be a good resource in developing a follow-on initiative, Mammadayarov said. Azerbaijan "for sure" will attend the Roundtable. However, Mammadayrov said, it is not yet clear who will represent Azerbaijan. President Aliyev has announced he will not attend UNGA because of other commitments (note: Embassy understands from the Presidential Apparat that Turkish PM Erdogan is pressing Aliyev hard to attend a meeting of Turkish Communities September 17-20 in Turkey and that he has tentatively agreed; then, he will attend a major annual conference in Germany and meet with Chancellor Merkel September 22 and 23). However, after reading the Ambassador's letter relaying the invitation to the conference, Mammadayrov said, the President had asked for more details about the meeting. ¶3. (SBU) Mammadayarov said Aliyev would like to know: what other countries and entities will attend and at what level; whether President Bush would simply give a speech and depart or whether he would lead/engage in the roundtable discussion; and, whether there would be an opportunity for a pull aside or a one-on-one meeting with President Bush for those foreign leaders who attend the roundtable. Mammadayarov asked that we provide this information as soon as possible for him to relay to President Aliyev. He added that if the President does not go, the GOAJ would like to send Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, who as former head of SOFAZ is best equipped to explain Azerbaijan's experience with the Oil Fund and EITI. The Ambassador undertook to get answers to the President's questions and seek Washington's view as to whether the Finance Minister could participate if the President does not. ¶4. (SBU) Comment and Action Requested: We believe President Aliyev is considering attending the Roundtable; if we can provide the information he requested quickly, we have a better chance of eliciting a positive decision. If Aliyev does not attend, we strongly endorse the participation of Finance Minister Sharifov, as he would be an excellent interlocutor on the energy, macroeconomic and development issues. DERSE