DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000107 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL AJ IZ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S IRAQ POLICY REF: A. SECSTATE 03592 ¶B. BAKU 00067 Classified By: Ambassador Anne E. Derse for reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador briefed Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov January 18 on reftel A points about President Bush's policy announcement on Iraq. The Ambassador explained that the points were previously briefed to Deputy Foreign Minister Khalafov (reftel B). ¶2. (C) Mammadyarov responded that "we support the USG position" and affirmed that Azerbaijan will keep its contingent in Iraq. Mammadyarov said he has spoken with Turkey about using the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to push for reconciliation between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq. He also observed that the International Compact with Iraq was "very intriguing," and held out the possibility of partnering with the USG and Iraq in this initiative as necessary. DERSE