DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RESPONSE TO AZERBAIJAN'S PSI

UNCLAS BAKU 000640 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND ISN/CPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC KNNP AJ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RESPONSE TO AZERBAIJAN'S PSI QUESTIONS REF: A. STATE 65631 ¶B. STATE 71274 ¶1. (SBU) Acting DCM delivered ref a demarche answering Azerbaijan's questions about the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in a May 18 meeting with Qalib Israfilov, Director of the MFA's International Security Affairs Department, and left para 3 points as nonpaper. Israflov listened attentively and, focusing on the pont that the requested government always makes itsown decision as to whether it will take action o a particular trafficking case, said that he undrstood that PSI member states retain their soverign right to determine how best to respond to paticular proliferation concerns. Israfilov thanked the Department for its thorough response and said that the MFA would need to study the specifics in detail. He promised to be in touch if he had any additional questions, and said the MFA looks forward to discussing PSI in greater detail at the upcoming US-Azerbaijan security consultations, scheduled for July. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: We subsequently received ref b, instructing us to confirm whether Washington had addressed Azerbaijan's PSI concerns. Poloff will deliver ref b demarche during the week of May 28 and report any additional information septel. LU