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