DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ENCOURAGING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON

UNCLAS BAKU 001170 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTERPREL UNSC LE AJ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ENCOURAGING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON REF: STATE 129919 ¶1. (SBU) A/DCM delivered reftel demarche to Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev on September 21, noting Foreign Minister Mammadyarov's interest in the Lebanon crisis during the summer of 2006 and Azerbaijan's growing role as an international donor. Mammadguliyev responded that international tribunal issues were handled by the MFA's Legal Department and promised to convey the information to Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, who oversees legal issues. Mammadguliyev asked how Russia had voted on UNSC 1757 and also expressed surprise that the Tribunal's estimated annual operating costs were so high. ¶2. (U) We also briefed MFA Americas Desk staff on this issue in a September 21 telcon, asking that the information be conveyed to the MFA Legal Department. LU