US embassy cable - 97DHAKA4187

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