Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
97DHAKA4187
1997-09-04 11:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH

Tags:  PREL EPET ECON BG US 
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O 041119Z SEP 97
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8518
USDOC WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0134
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//J45/J3/J31/J4/J5/J513//
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
DIA WASHDC//DH3//
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
CIA
NSC WASHDC
AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 
AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 004187 


STATE ALSO FOR EB/ESC, INR/SA, DRL
USDOC FOR 4530 ITA/ANESA/OSA, 6000 ADVOCACY CENTER
ISLAMABAD PLEASE ALSO PASS TO A/S INDERFURTH

E.O. 12958: 9/4/07
TAGS: PREL EPET ECON BG US
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH
BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 004187


STATE ALSO FOR EB/ESC, INR/SA, DRL
USDOC FOR 4530 ITA/ANESA/OSA, 6000 ADVOCACY CENTER
ISLAMABAD PLEASE ALSO PASS TO A/S INDERFURTH

E.O. 12958: 9/4/07
TAGS: PREL EPET ECON BG US
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH
BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JOHN HOLZMAN. REASON
1.5 (D).


2. (C) SUMMARY: PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA USED
HER INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR HOLZMAN TO
PRESS HARD FOR A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO BANGLADESH.
SHE SAID THAT SHE, AND THE PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH, "ARE
EXPECTING A VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT." FOREIGN
SECRETARY FAROOQ SOBHAN ADDED THAT WHAT HE PERCEIVED
TO BE A RECENT "GOLDEN AGE" IN U.S.-BANGLADESHI
RELATIONS WOULD BE DISRUPTED IF THE PRESIDENT DECIDED
NOT TO COME. THE PRIME MINISTER ASSURED THE
AMBASSADOR THAT THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTE FAIRNESS IN
THE EVALUATIONS OF THE CURRENT ROUND OF GAS BIDS, AND
ADDED THAT SHE WOULD ENDEAVOR TO ACCELERATE THE
APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE UNOCAL PRODUCTION-SHARING
CONTRACT (PSC),SO THAT THE AGREEMENT COULD BE SIGNED
DURING A/S INDERFURTH'S VISIT NEXT WEEK. THE PRIME
MINISTER THANKED THE U.S. FOR ASSISTING WITH THE
PROTECTION OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) ON SEPTEMBER 3, AMBASSADOR HOLZMAN,
ACCOMPANIED BY DCM TED NIST (NOTETAKER),PAID AN
INTRODUCTORY CALL ON PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WERE FOREIGN SECRETARY FAROOQ
SOBHAN, MFA AMERICAS AND PACIFIC DIRECTOR GENERAL
ASHRAF UD-DOULA, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE PRIME
MINISTER S.A. SAMAD, PRESS SECRETARY TO THE PRIME
MINISTER JAWADUL KARIM, AND ASSISTANT PRIVATE
SECRETARY TO THE PRIME MINISTER IBRAHEEM HOSEIN KHAN.

"WE EXPECT YOUR PRESIDENT TO COME TO BANGLADESH"
-------------- --

4. (C) FOLLOWING AN EXCHANGE OF PLEASANTRIES,
AMBASSADOR HOLZMAN DISCUSSED POSSIBLE VISITS TO THE
REGION BY U.S. OFFICIALS. HE OBSERVED THAT ASSISTANT
SECRETARY INDERFURTH WOULD BE COMING NEXT WEEK. HE
ADDED THAT BOTH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND SECRETARY
ALBRIGHT ARE CONSIDERING TRIPS TO THE REGION, BUT
STRESSED THAT NEITHER HAS DECIDED DEFINITELY TO COME
TO BANGLADESH. THE PRIME MINISTER RESPONDED "WE
EXPECT (PRESIDENT CLINTON) TO COME TO BANGLADESH."
SHE REMEMBERED FONDLY MRS. CLINTON'S TRIP TO
BANGLADESH IN 1995, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE IN FEBRUARY
AS CO-CHAIRS OF THE MICROCREDIT SUMMIT IN
WASHINGTON. SHE RECALLED HER "EXCELLENT MEETING"
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON IN THE WHITE

HOUSE, AND SAID SHE APPRECIATED THE LETTER THE
PRESIDENT HAD SENT HER FOLLOWING THE DENVER ECONOMIC
SUMMIT. SHE NOTED THE "STRONG LINKS" THAT THE AWAMI
LEAGUE HAS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, INCLUDING ITS
ASSISTANCE WITH FUND-RAISING AND POLITICAL ACTION.
SHE ALSO RECALLED HER ATTENDANCE AT THE 1992
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. IT'S NOT JUST THE
GOVERNMENT, SHE CONCLUDED: "THE PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH
WANT PRESIDENT CLINTON TO VISIT."


5. (C) FOREIGN SECRETARY SOBHAN ECHOED THE PRIME
MINISTER'S SENTIMENTS. THIS IS SOMETHING THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO, HE SAID. HE ADDED
THAT IN HIS VIEW, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S VISIT WILL BE
AN IMPORTANT SIGNAL OF U.S. SUPPORT FOR BANGLADESH'S
EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. A
CLINTON VISIT, HE SAID, WOULD BE A VERY POWERFUL
SIGNAL TO THE PEOPLE IN BANGLADESH AND THE REGION,
AND WOULD REINFORCE BANGLADESH'S COMMITMENT TO
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY. A DECISION BY THE PRESIDENT
NOT TO COME WOULD, HE SAID, CAUSE "SERIOUS
MISGIVINGS." HE ADDED THAT "WE DON'T HAVE
EXAGGERATED EXPECTATIONS ... EVEN A ONE-DAY VISIT
WOULD BE APPRECIATED."

A "GOLDEN AGE"?
--------------

6. (C) ON A ROLL, SOBHAN CHARACTERIZED THE LAST
FOURTEEN MONTHS (SINCE THE ELECTION OF THE PRIME
MINISTER) AS A "GOLDEN AGE" OF U.S.-BANGLADESHI
RELATIONS. HE POINTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S TWO
TRIPS TO THE UNITED STATES, HER MEETINGS WITH THE
PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND
THE MICROCREDIT SUMMIT. HE ALSO NOTED THE RECENT
INCREASE IN U.S. INVESTMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THE
ENERGY FIELD.

GAS
---

7. (C) THE AMBASSADOR OBSERVED THAT IN THIS
CONNECTION, THERE HAD BEEN CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION AND
CONCERN ON THE PART OF A NUMBER OF THE U.S. COMPANIES
THAT SUBMITTED BIDS JULY 16 FOR THE SECOND GAS
ROUND. SOME AMERICAN COMPANIES ARE CONCERNED THAT
ANOTHER COMPANY, NOT FROM THE U.S. (NOTE: SHELL. END
NOTE),HAS BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANTAGE IN THE EVALUATION
OF ITS BIDS. U.S. COMPANIES, HE STRESSED, WILL BE
ABLE TO LIVE WITH THE RESULTS, SO LONG AS THE PROCESS
IS FAIR AND OPEN, AND THE OUTCOME CLEARLY SERVES
BANGLADESH'S NATIONAL INTERESTS.


8. (C) AFTER CONFERRING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER,
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY SAMAD SAID THE EVALUATION PROCESS
WILL BE TRANSPARENT, AND THE PLAYING FIELD WILL BE
LEVEL FOR ALL COMPETITORS. THE PRIME MINISTER'S
OFFICE WILL SCRUTINIZE THE PROCESS, HE SAID, EVEN
BEFORE THE "SHORT LISTS" ARE PREPARED. HE NOTED THAT
OF THE FOUR CONCERNS ALREADY WITH CONCESSIONS IN
BANGLADESH, THREE ARE AMERICAN. (NOTE: THE THREE ARE
OCCIDENTAL, UNITED MERIDIAN, AND REXWOOD/OKLAND. IN
ADDITION, HALLIBURTON AND UNOCAL HAVE CONTRACTUAL
ARRANGEMENTS WITH OTHER CONCESSIONAIRES. END NOTE).


9. (C) THE PRIME MINISTER ASSURED THE AMBASSADOR THAT
THERE WOULD BE "ABSOLUTE FAIRNESS" IN THE EVALUATION
OF THE BIDS, AND SAID THAT SHE HAS GIVEN VERY
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO THOSE WHO ARE WORKING ON IT
TO TREAT ALL COMPANIES FAIRLY. SAMAD ADDED THAT THE
PRIME MINISTER HAD ASSIGNED HIM TO OVERSEE THE
PROCESS. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CREDIBILITY IN THE BID
ROUND IS "TERRIBLY IMPORTANT."

UNOCAL SIGNING PROPOSAL
--------------

10. (C) THE AMBASSADOR THEN MADE A SPECIFIC
SUGGESTION - THAT THE BDG MOVE QUICKLY IN APPROVING
THE PSC (PRODUCTION-SHARING CONTRACT) FOR THE UNOCAL
SHAHBAZPUR PROJECT, SO THAT THE AGREEMENT COULD BE
SIGNED DURING ASSISTANT SECRETARY INDERFURTH'S VISIT
TO BANGLADESH ON SEPTEMBER 10-12. THE PRIME MINISTER
RESPONDED, "SURE; I THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE."
SAMAD SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
"AT LEAST TO INITIAL" THE CONTRACTS, BUT AMBASSADOR
HOLZMAN PRESSED TO HAVE A REAL SIGNING, SO THAT
UNOCAL COULD BEGIN ITS WORK AT THE OUTSET OF THE
COMING DRY SEASON, AND MAKE GOOD ON ITS AGREEMENT TO
DELIVER GAS TO POWER PLANTS FOR THE ENERGY-STARVED
WESTERN REGION (SHEIKH HASINA COMES FROM THIS REGION).

SECURITY CONCERNS
--------------

11. (C) THE PRIME MINISTER CLOSED BY NOTING HER
APPRECIATION FOR THE USG'S PROTECTION OF HER FAMILY
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND REQUESTED ITS HELP IN
APPREHENDING ANY PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF HER FATHER'S
KILLING WHO MIGHT BE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AMBASSADOR HOLZMAN NOTED THAT IF ANY OF THE SUSPECTS
WERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY WOULD PROBABLY
REQUEST ASYLUM; AFTER THAT, THEIR FATE WOULD BE IN
THE HANDS OF THE COURT SYSTEM, WHICH COULD MOVE VERY
SLOWLY. DCM ADDED THAT THE USG WOULD APPRECIATE ANY
INFORMATION THE BDG MIGHT HAVE ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC
THREATS TO MEMBERS OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S FAMILY, SO
THAT WE CAN PASS THIS INFORMATION TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.

COMMENT
--------------

12. (C) THIS WAS A VERY CORDIAL FIRST MEETING. THE
AMBASSADOR BEGAN BY GIVING THE PRIME MINISTER A
POPULAR AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR HER NEW
GRANDDAUGHTER, AND THIS CLEARLY PUT THE PRIME
MINISTER IN A VERY FRIENDLY FRAME OF MIND.


13. (C) THE BDG IS PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR A
CLINTON VISIT. ANYONE WHO IS PERCEIVED BY THE BDG TO
HAVE ANY INFLUENCE OVER THIS DECISION CAN EXPECT TO
BE LOBBIED, AND LOBBIED HARD.


HOLZMAN