Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD3037
2008-09-16 10:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
U.S.-PAKISTAN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY
how-toVZCZCXRO3770 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #3037 2601053 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 161053Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8825 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 9137 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3779 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0325 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 6067 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4877 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 4383 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003037
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: U.S.-PAKISTAN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY
NEGOTIATIONS: DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3013
B. STATE 93232
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003037
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: U.S.-PAKISTAN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY
NEGOTIATIONS: DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3013
B. STATE 93232
1. (SBU) Summary: On September 16, DCM met with Pakistan's
Board of Investment (BOI) Executive Director General Major
(Retd.) Iqbal Ahmad to deliver the demarche in Reftel B. The
BOI is the lead Pakistani agency for Bilateral Investment
Treaty (BIT) negotiations, and the Ministry of Finance told
the Embassy the BOI was the appropriate agency to receive the
BIT demarche. DCM communicated the USG desire to move
forward with BIT negotiations with the Government of Pakistan
(GOP) based on the 2006 BIT text without further changes or
additional understandings. Ahmad advised that he would take
this under consideration and provide a response early next
week after consulting with his legal advisor. Ahmad also
requested negotiations take place in late October in
Islamabad. End Summary.
2. (SBU) DCM expressed the USG desire to conclude BIT
negotiations, noting the BIT would be a positive step forward
for Pakistan's economy. It would signal to the market
Pakistan's seriousness about developing a business-friendly
economy and creating an environment that will maintain and
attract greater levels of U.S. investment. The DCM stressed
that, before reopening formal negotiations, the USG needs
assurance that both sides share the same views in regard to
what our starting point for negotiations would be.
Specifically, he asked if the GOP would be prepared to
complete negotiations based on the 2006 BIT text, without
further changes or additional understandings.
3. (SBU) Ahmad acknowledged the importance of going into
negotiations with similar expectations. As to whether the
GOP would be willing to set aside the "shared understanding"
and move forward based only on the 2006 BIT text without
further changes or additional understandings, Ahmad said he
would need to consult with his legal advisor who is abroad
until September 19.
4. (SBU) Ahmad agreed on the benefit of moving forward
promptly but said that negotiations in September would not be
possible due to prior commitments and the timing of Ramadan
and Eid. However, he said that negotiations during the week
of October 20 might be possible, and he repeatedly requested
these take place in Islamabad. The DCM assured Ahmad that if
both sides could agree on a way forward on substance,
logistical arrangements would not stand in our way.
PATTERSON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: U.S.-PAKISTAN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY
NEGOTIATIONS: DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3013
B. STATE 93232
1. (SBU) Summary: On September 16, DCM met with Pakistan's
Board of Investment (BOI) Executive Director General Major
(Retd.) Iqbal Ahmad to deliver the demarche in Reftel B. The
BOI is the lead Pakistani agency for Bilateral Investment
Treaty (BIT) negotiations, and the Ministry of Finance told
the Embassy the BOI was the appropriate agency to receive the
BIT demarche. DCM communicated the USG desire to move
forward with BIT negotiations with the Government of Pakistan
(GOP) based on the 2006 BIT text without further changes or
additional understandings. Ahmad advised that he would take
this under consideration and provide a response early next
week after consulting with his legal advisor. Ahmad also
requested negotiations take place in late October in
Islamabad. End Summary.
2. (SBU) DCM expressed the USG desire to conclude BIT
negotiations, noting the BIT would be a positive step forward
for Pakistan's economy. It would signal to the market
Pakistan's seriousness about developing a business-friendly
economy and creating an environment that will maintain and
attract greater levels of U.S. investment. The DCM stressed
that, before reopening formal negotiations, the USG needs
assurance that both sides share the same views in regard to
what our starting point for negotiations would be.
Specifically, he asked if the GOP would be prepared to
complete negotiations based on the 2006 BIT text, without
further changes or additional understandings.
3. (SBU) Ahmad acknowledged the importance of going into
negotiations with similar expectations. As to whether the
GOP would be willing to set aside the "shared understanding"
and move forward based only on the 2006 BIT text without
further changes or additional understandings, Ahmad said he
would need to consult with his legal advisor who is abroad
until September 19.
4. (SBU) Ahmad agreed on the benefit of moving forward
promptly but said that negotiations in September would not be
possible due to prior commitments and the timing of Ramadan
and Eid. However, he said that negotiations during the week
of October 20 might be possible, and he repeatedly requested
these take place in Islamabad. The DCM assured Ahmad that if
both sides could agree on a way forward on substance,
logistical arrangements would not stand in our way.
PATTERSON