EMBASSY BAKU INFORMATION ON THE OIC SUMMIT IN DAKAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000210

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2018
TAGS: PREL AORC SG OIC AJ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BAKU INFORMATION ON THE OIC SUMMIT IN DAKAR

REF: A. BAKU 00204


B. STATE 23596

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Joan Polaschik for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).


1. (C) Per ref a, poloff informed the MFA of Sada Cumber's
recent appointment. The Embassy also has communicated
Cumber's interest in meeting with either Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov or Deputy Foreign Minister Vagif
Sadikov. Both Azerbaijani officials will be at the
conference on March 13-14. The Embassy also has shared the
phone numbers for Ambassador Christopher Ross and Special
Envoy Sada Cumber with the MFA. The MFA POC for the
Azerbaijani delegation is Elmar Alizada, who can be reached
at 994-55-550-2020.


2. (C) The MFA has not confirmed whether either Mammadyarov
or Sadikov is available for a meeting, although the GOAJ
typically does not confirm meetings until the day before or
day of the requested meeting. Alizada suggested that the
Azerbaijani side likely would be interested in meeting
Special Envoy Cumber. The Embassy recommends the U.S.
delegation contact Alizada on March 12 to push for a precise
meeting date and time.


3. (C) Azerbaijan chaired the OIC Foreign Ministers'
Conference from June 2006 through June 2007. During its
chairmanship, the GOAJ said it was interested in transforming
the OIC into a results-oriented organization and using it as
a vehicle for promoting religious tolerance. The GOAJ has
said it supports the U.S. goal of building better relations
between the U.S. and the OIC. The GOAJ also hosted an April
2007 conference on the role of the media in promoting
tolerance. Now that Azerbaijan,s Chairmanship of the OIC
Foreign Ministers, Conference has ended, it is unclear how
much influence Azerbaijan exerts within the OIC. Azerbaijani
officials have hinted that they have faced strong pressure
from neighboring Iran when the GOAJ has attempted to push a
moderate agenda within the OIC. We believe one of the GOAJ's
primary goals vis-a-vis the OIC is to secure additional
multilateral support for its position on Nagorno-Karabakh.


4. (C) The Embassy suggests that Cumber ask the GOAJ for its
future priorities as an OIC member, focusing on Baku's
concrete plans. The Embassy also requests that Cumber
consider a follow-on visit to Baku in the near future to
build on the GOAJ's committment to be a force for moderation
and reform within the OIC.
DERSE