GOP REQUESTS NEW DATE FOR ENERGY DIALOGUE DISCUSSIONS IN

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000418 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ECON EFIN EINV PREL PK SUBJECT: GOP REQUESTS NEW DATE FOR ENERGY DIALOGUE DISCUSSIONS IN WASHINGTON REFS: Department of Energy Letter to the GOP dated October 25, 2007 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para five. -------------- -------------- GOP Requests New Date for Discussion with USG on Energy -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY. In response to a letter dated October 25, 2007 from Karen A. Harbert, Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of Policy and International Affairs, the GOP has again formally requested that a new date be selected for the bilateral Strategic Dialogue Energy Discussions originally proposed for January 30, 2008 in Washington DC. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) In response to Embassy requests, Mansoor Khan, Director for Americas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs relayed that the DOE proposed date of January 30, 2008 for bilateral energy discussion in Washington would not be feasible due to the upcoming February 18 national elections in Pakistan. He suggested that a new date be proposed by the USG so that the talks can be carried out shortly after the new government is installed. ¶4. (SBU) A letter dated October 25, 2007 from Karen A. Harbert, Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of Policy and International Affairs was sent to Mr. Muktar Ahmed, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Energy via email. The Embassy wishes to advise that Mr. Ahmed is no longer serving as the Prime Minister's energy advisor and has moved from Pakistan. -------------- Action request -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Action request: Post requests the DOE and State coordinate to set a new date for the Energy Dialogue discussions and suggests that a target date be on or about the first week of April. The MFA and Post believe that the newly appointed ministers involved in energy policy will be in place and this will allow sufficient time to process visas. ¶6. (SBU) Pakistan is facing a desperate energy crisis and seeks closer ties with Iran through a pipeline to solve their energy crunch. If the USG is to have any opportunity to present any alternative to the Iran pipeline deal, closer coordination and policy planning with the USG is desperately needed to mitigate the worsening energy shortages. The Energy Dialogue poses the best opportunity to address energy issues at a high coordinating level. Post requests that a new date be conveyed as soon as possible. End action request. PATTERSON