AMBASSADOR AND FINANCE MINISTER REVIEW EPC AGENDA,

UNCLAS BAKU 000254

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EEB A/S SULLIVAN
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL AJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND FINANCE MINISTER REVIEW EPC AGENDA,
COMMUNIQUE AND LOGISTICS


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION -
HANDLE ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 7.


2. (SBU) Finance Minister Sharifov and his team reviewed the
EPC agenda, communique and logistics with us on March 14.
Sharifov said that the GOAJ will provide a list of the GOAJ
delegation by March 31. The GOAJ delegation could include a
number of ministers, including Economic Development Minister
Heydar Babayev, Energy and Industry Minister Natiq Aliyev,
Communication and Information Technology Minister Ali
Abbasov, Minister of Health Oktay Shiraliyev, Minister of
Agriculture, Minister of Education Misir Mardanov, State Oil
Fund Shahmar Movsumov, National Bank Chairman Rustamov, the
new head of the Civil Aviation Administration Mammadov,
Customs Committee Chairman Aliyev and Social Protection Fund
Chairman Muslumov. Sharifov said that Foreign Minister
Mammadyarov, Minister of Emergency Situations Heydarov,
Minister of Taxes Mammadov, Minister of Justice Mammadov,
Prosecutor General Garalov and Presidential Economic Advisor
Vahid Akhundov will not/not attend the EPC in the U.S. These
ministries/offices may send lower level representatives such
as deputy ministers. Sharifov will submit the draft names to
the Cabinet of Ministers and President for final approval.
Sharifov requested the list of USG participants so he can
attract senior GOAJ participation.


3. (SBU) Regarding the EPC agenda and communique, Sharifov
had no problems, substantive comments or changes to the
agenda or communique. He said both looked fine. Sharifov
acknowledged that he had to review the communique in more
detail and inform us of any changes at a later time.
Sharifov said he "sees no need to sign communique - only
adopt it." Sharifov asked that we send asap the draft Joint
Collaborative Agenda, appearing interested in a specific
action plan.


4. (SBU) Regarding the proposed US-TU-AJ trilateral meeting
Sharifov was interested but requested more infomation as
soon as possible in order to inform th appropriate GOAJ
officials, including MFA Energy Ambassador Shamil Aleskarov.
Sharifov guessed that the trilateral would include energy
issues and said that Energy and Industry Minister Natiq
Aliyev may also attend the EPC and could be present for the
trilateral.


5. (SBU) Sharifov told the Ambassador that he needs time on
April 14 to meet with World Bank President Zoellick. Sharifov
said that that GOAJ representative at World Bank/IMF (Ulvi
Seyidzadeh) would handle arranging the meeting. Sharifov
said that he would welcome an opportunity to meet with
Treasury DepSec Kimmit on April 16 and said that he and the
other GOAJ ministers would be interested in meetings with USG
officials after the EPC.


6. (SBU) Sharifov welcomed our review of the
assisstance-related documents we would sign at the EPC, and
noted that the key is that "we agree on directions of
activity...if we agree, we will definitely find a way to
finance it," he said.


7. (SBU) Action Request: With the EPC quickly approaching
and the GOAJ going on an extended holiday from March 20-28,
Embassy Baku requests that Washington provide us with the
following items by Monday April 17: the draft list of USG
participants; the interagency cleared Joint Collaborative
Agenda; more details on the US-TU-AJ Trilateral meeting,
including GOT participants, proposed discussion topics; the
guest list for the USACC/BCIU dinner on the evening of April
14; the list of U.S. company executives participating in the
business roundtable discussion on April 15; and Treasury
assistance in arranging a meeting date and time for Sharifov
with Deputy Secretary Kimmit on April 16. Embassy thanks
EUR/CARC and the interagency for all their support and
assistance to make this EPC a success.
DERSE