ACTION REQUEST: U.S. SUPPORT FOR UNITED NATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000442 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2018 TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL AJ SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: U.S. SUPPORT FOR UNITED NATIONS EITI RESOLUTION Classified By: AMBASSADOR ANNE E. DERSE PER REASONS 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 4. ¶2. (C) The Executive Director of Azerbaijan's State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) Shahmar Movsumov called Ambassador Derse this morning to thank the United States for its support for the Azerbaijan-sponsored United Nations resolution on Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and to ask for help in countering opposition arising from the G-77 by "bolstering" the group of G-77 countries who support the resolution. Movsumov told the Ambassador while some G-77 countries are supporting the resolution, Iran, Venezuela and Egypt are opposing it as a "rich-world imposition" and are pushing others to do the same. He said he would be calling other Ambassadors who support the resolution to seek similar support. ¶3. (C) Movsumov requested U.S. support for the EITI resolution and requested the U.S. "speak out more vocally" in support of the resolution to bolster other G-77 countries supporting EITI. SOFAZ is one of the most transparent Government of Azerbaijan organizations. It is audited annually by international accounting firms and publishes quarterly and annual reports on its Internet web site. In 2007, SOFAZ was awarded the United Nations Public Service Commission award for transparency and accountability. ¶4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy requests the Department's assistance in being responsive to Movsumov's request. We understand the USG supports the UN EITI resolution. Embassy Baku is aware that Azerbaijan's Mission to the United Nations has been in contact with USUN staff and hopes that USUN is able to work with the Azerbaijan mission to forward the resolution. Embassy believes that supporting Azerbaijan and its EITI resolution is in the U.S. interests and would help support one of Azerbaijan's best institutions -- at a time when we need positive cooperation on matters of shared interest. DERSE