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