AZERBAIJAN'S RESPONSE TO U.S.-PROPOSED AGENDA FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000348 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR PM/RSAT AND EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS PARM PGOG AJ SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN'S RESPONSE TO U.S.-PROPOSED AGENDA FOR POL-MIL CONSULTATIONS REF: STATE 31042 Classified By: DCM Jason P. Hyland per 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (SBU) As requested reftel, pol/econ chief extended PM A/S Hillen's invitation to the 2006 session of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Political-Military Consultations to Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov. Azimov was already aware of the planned March 29 talks and expressed his confidence that the talks would be productive. Azimov confirmed that he would lead the GOAJ delegation and said that although colleagues from other ministries had joined him for the talks in the past, this year he likely would be joined only by the defense attache from the Azerbaijani embassy in Washington. ¶2. (C) Pol/econ chief reviewed the U.S.-proposed agenda with Azimov. Azimov agreed with the suggested agenda, but asked that several items be added to the agenda. First, Azimov would like GUAM to be included under the discussion of transnational and regional issues. Second, Azimov would like the talks to address the pol-mil aspects of a potential negotiated peace settlement with Armenia. Specifically, he would like to add demining and an assessment of rehabilitation needs in the Occupied Territories; he added that Azerbaijan faces great demining needs in the Occupied Territories and would like to discuss this issue with the USG. During the pol-mil talks, Azimov also would like to discuss the possible structure and mandate for a potential peace-keeping operation in the Occupied Territories following a peace agreement with Armenia. HARNISH