AMBASSADOR URGES AZERBAIJAN TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000230 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2020 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF AJ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES AZERBAIJAN TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 19516 ¶B. BAKU 191 Classified By: Ambassador Derse for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a March 1 meeting with President Aliyev, the Ambassador told President Aliyev that the U.S. would be asking ISAF coalition countries to increase their participation in Afghanistan, and that she would pass options on how to do so to the MFA. Aliyev said that he would consult FM Mammadyarov and that Azerbaijan "understood it had to do something and would do something." The Ambassador also delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Mammadyarov and Deputy Foreign Araz Azimov during a lunch meeting on March 4, 2008, which included visiting DAS Matt Bryza. Mammadyarov and Azimov said that they had already sent some ideas forward and would review the non-paper. ¶2. (C) Ambassador followed up on this issue with President Aliyev during a meeting with DAS Bryza on March 5 (other topics septel). The Ambassador also gave President Aliyev a copy of the non-paper, noting her discussion with Mammadyarov and Azimov. She emphasized the importance of a contribution in the form of a battalion, company, financial contribution to the trust fund or provision of police trainers as priority areas. She underscored the interest in matching contributions to ISAF's identified needs. The President welcomed the additional information. The Embassy plans to follow up with MFA officials week of March 10. DERSE