BANGLADESH FM WELCOMES MEETING WITH SECRETARY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000831 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD ECON EAIR PHUM BG SUBJECT: BANGLADESH FM WELCOMES MEETING WITH SECRETARY, "CONVERGENCE" ON COUNTER TERRORISM, WOMEN'S ISSUES, GOVERNANCE REF: DHAKA 739 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES F. MORIARTY REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Foreign Minister Dipu Moni welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Secretary on September 16 in Washington. In a wide-ranging conversation August 20, the Ambassador pushed Moni on bilateral issues, including high-profile commercial advocacy cases, and outlined U.S. objectives on human rights, counter-terrorism and women's issues in advance of the FM's Washington visit. Moni deflected the Ambassador's pressing for Government of Bangladesh (GOB) recognition of Kosovo, which he also raised in comments to press following the meeting with the FM (septel). Looking Forward to S Meeting -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Moriarty called on Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to convey the Secretary's offer to meet in Washington in mid-September. Moni welcomed the proposed meeting, recalling with evident fondness their previous interactions. Moni hoped to capitalize on the Secretary's personal and professional interest in Bangladesh and South Asia to advance shared U.S.-GOB objectives like women's empowerment, combating violent extremism, good governance and anti-corruption. Moni welcomed the establishment of a Bangladeshi diaspora foundation in the U.S. that would supplement official and commercial exchanges between the two countries. She looked forward to discussing the concept further in Washington. "Convergence" of U.S. and GOB Objectives -------------- ¶3. (C) Moni hailed the "convergence" of the current U.S. and Bangladesh administrations, saying both were elected to follow through on strong mandates for change. Moni hailed President Obama's Cairo speech, describing the response in Bangladesh and throughout the world as "phenomenal." Moni said the U.S. had always been supportive of Bangladesh, most recently supporting the restoration of democracy. Moni conceded that Bangladesh had problems, but recalled Bangladesh's positive contributions through peace-keeping and through "7.5 million Bangladeshis working in countries all around the world." Commercial Issues: Closing the Deal -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador encouraged Moni to push for GOB resolution of a number of outstanding decisions regarding high-profile commercial issues. Moni said she had recently approached Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about Coca-Cola's plans to construct a bottling plant; the PM had been supportive and hoped that Coca-Cola executives would soon visit Bangladesh for meetings with the Foreign, Commerce, and Industry Ministers. When the Ambassador highlighted the lack of progress by the GOB on Biman Airlines' proposed package with Boeing (reftel),Moni expressed surprise that the GOB risked losing its JFK landing rights if flights did not resume by November. Moni said her government would approve Conoco Phillips' request to move ahead with exploration on two of the eight blocks for which it had bid successfully, while the GOB reviewed the border disputes affecting the remaining six blocks. Blaming the Bureaucrats -------------- ¶5. (C) Moni said she and other members of the cabinet supported these U.S.-partnered projects and were working to move them forward. She complained, however, that bureaucrats reluctant to take high-profile commercial decisions were hamstringing the government. The overly aggressive anti-corruption drive of the Caretaker Government, Moni argued, had scared the bureaucrats into paralysis. Moni assured the Ambassador that the GOB remained open to foreign investment, pointing out that she had recently attended the public launch of a factory producing Disney-licensed products. Comment: Moni's Tenure is an Opportunity for the U.S. -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) An articulate lawyer, physician and mother of two, DHAKA 00000831 002 OF 002 Moni is an effective emissary for Bangladesh and a promising partner for the U.S. on issues ranging from women's rights to countering violent extremism. Moni's legal training and medical credentials -as well as her gender- gave Moni unparalleled access to PM Sheikh Hasina while the PM was imprisoned during the Caretaker Government. This shared experience has translated into continuing access and influence for the Foreign Minister now that Sheikh Hasina is in power. Post will work with the Department to recommend how we might capitalize on Moni's visit to advance U.S. objectives in Bangladesh and beyond. MORIARTY