VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0237/01 0721340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121340Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4944

UNCLAS BAKU 000237 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/EX FOR JOEL DANIELS, RM/CFO FOR DONNA BORDLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT ENRG AJ
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO SOLICIT FUNDS 
 
 
¶1.  This is an action request - please see paragraph 5. 
Reply requested NLT Friday March 28. 
 
¶2.  The 2008 Caspian Oil and Gas Show (COGS) will be held 
June 3-6, 2008, here in Baku.  This annual event has 
thousands of attendees and is the largest oil and gas show in 
the region.  COGS 2007 hosted 360 exhibitors from 33 
countries (including a dozen major U.S. firms) and 
approximately 10,000 registered visitors in 2007.  Similar 
numbers of U.S. energy and energy services companies are 
expected to attend this year. 
 
¶3.  Given the importance of Caspian Basin energy issues to 
our political, economic, and commercial agenda here, the U.S. 
Embassy in Baku plays an active role in COGS, staffing a 
booth along with the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and 
supporting American participants.  The centerpiece of our 
efforts is the large reception jointly hosted with the 
British Embassy the first night of the show (this year, June 
3).  Around one thousand industry and government officials 
are invited, and many American companies cite this reception 
as the best opportunity to network with colleagues and 
potential customers.  We split the cost 50-50 with the 
British Embassy.  The reception qualifies as a trade 
promotion event under the criteria defined in 2 FAM 
962.1-5b(1). 
 
¶4.  The estimated 2008 cost for the U.S. Embassy's share of 
the joint event is USD 16,500.  Since we began sponsoring 
these receptions in 1995, we have defrayed the U.S. Embassy's 
share of the cost via voluntary donations provided by U.S. 
energy and energy services companies active in the region. 
Donated funds are deposited in a special account which may 
only be accessed to meet specified reception costs.  USD 
2,399.47 remains from the 2007 reception solicitation and we 
would like to apply this amount towards 2008 reception 
expenses. 
 
¶5.  ACTION REQUEST:  In accordance with 2 FAM 962, we request 
authorization to solicit voluntary donations for this event 
and to use the balance left over from 2007.  The text of the 
proposed U.S. Embassy solicitation letter and a list of 
companies to be solicited is provided in paragraphs 6 and 7 
below; apart from the dates and other, nonsubstantive 
changes, it is the same text as that 
approved by the Department in 2007.  None of the companies 
does business with the Embassy.  Department approval is 
requested NLT March 28, 2008, to permit smooth organization 
of the event and to help avoid a conflict with our Fourth of 
July Reception fund-raising activities. 
 
¶6.  (Begin Draft Text of Donation Solicitation Letter): 
 
Mr. John Doe 
U.S. Energy Company 
Baku, Azerbaijan 
 
Dear Mr. Doe: 
 
The 2008 Caspian Oil and Gas Show June 3-6 will be an 
important event for the energy industry.  As in years past, 
the American and British Embassies are organizing a reception 
in support of the show for industry and key government 
officials.  The reception is planned for the evening of June 
3, at the Park Hyatt hotel.  I write to request your 
assistance in ensuring that the joint U.S./U.K. reception 
achieves its goal of giving you an opportunity to meet in an 
informal setting with colleagues and potential customers. 
 
As a part of this, the U.S. Embassy seeks sponsorships to 
defray part of the reception's cost.  Let me be clear that in 
accordance with U.S. Government policy of avoiding conflicts 
of interest as well as the appearance of impropriety, your 
assistance is not required and is not tied to any services 
you can expect from the U.S. Embassy in Baku. 
 
I hope that you, as a representative of an American business 
operating overseas (or, for non-U.S. firms, "as a 
representative of a business with substantial American 
interests"), can provide some financial support for the 
reception.  Estimated cost of the U.S. Embassy's share of the 
reception is about USD 16,500.  Any contribution you can make 
to help defray this cost will be greatly appreciated. If your 
company chooses to contribute, please return your 
contribution payable to the United States Embassy in Baku and 
direct it to Energy Officer Alan Eyre (498-0335, ext. 4373) 
or to Political-Economic Office Manager Cindi Thompson (ext. 
4242).  The welcome banner at the reception will display the 
corporate logos of all contributors. 
 
The U.S. Embassy is responsible for half of the approximately 
1,000 guests invited to the reception.  We have already begun 
to work on the acquisition of goods and services to support 
the reception.  As U.S. Government regulations require us to 
have financial donations in hand before we can commit any 
money to these goods and services, we kindly ask that, if you 
are able to make a contribution, that you do so as soon as 
possible.  In order to make sure that your corporate logo 
appears on the welcome banner, we will need to have your 
contribution by May 20.  Should you donate, we would be 
pleased to acknowledge your company's support at the 
reception itself. 
 
I hope that ((company name)) will be able to support the 
joint U.S./U.K. reception at the 2008 Caspian Oil and Gas 
Show.  Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any 
questions. 
 
Sincerely, 
Anne E. Derse 
Ambassador 
 
NOTE: Ambassador will add a postscript on letters to 
companies that contributed in 2006 saying "Thanks again for 
your generous support in 2007!"  (End Draft Text of Donation 
Solicitation Letter) 
 
¶7.  The proposed solicitation letter will be sent to the 
following U.S. energy and energy service companies active in 
Azerbaijan: 
 
--AIG Caspian Insure 
--AON Azeri 
--Azeri MI Drilling Fluids 
--Baker & McKenzie 
--Baker Hughes Azerbaijan 
--BJ Services 
--Caspian Region Oilfield Services 
--Caspian Wireline Services Ltd 
--Central Asia Business Consultants 
--Chevron Khazar Ltd. 
--Cooper Cameron 
--Decon 
--Deloitte & Touche 
--Emerson Process Management 
--Ernst & Young Holdings (CIS) B.V. 
--Exxon 
--Foxboro 
--GLOBALSANTAFE/Caspian Drilling Company (Cdc) 
--Halliburton Eurasia 
--Hess 
--Karasu Operating Company 
--KBR - Kellogg Brown & Root 
--KPMG 
--M&M MIlitzer & Munch Baku Ltd (FedEx) 
--Marsh Insurance 
--McDermott Caspian Contractors 
--Oxus Energy 
--Petrofac 
--PricewaterhouseCoopers 
--Reed Hycalog 
--Salans 
--Smith International,Inc. 
--Technip 
--Tidewater Marine 
--Transocean Projects Ltd 
 
¶8.  Please note that, in accordance with reftel, the Embassy 
is not currently involved in any ongoing advocacy effort for 
these companies. 
DERSE