Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ALMATY3905
2005-10-29 00:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
US Office Almaty
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR MEETS DFM SHAKIROV, NO
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ALMATY 003905
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN JMUDGE
DEFENSE FOR USDP/CTR AWEBER, SCALI
DTRA FOR FSHEEHY
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM TBIO PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR MEETS DFM SHAKIROV, NO
PROGRESS ON STRAIN TRANSFER
UNCLAS ALMATY 003905
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN JMUDGE
DEFENSE FOR USDP/CTR AWEBER, SCALI
DTRA FOR FSHEEHY
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM TBIO PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR MEETS DFM SHAKIROV, NO
PROGRESS ON STRAIN TRANSFER
1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Ordway met with Deputy Foreign
Minister Askar Shakirov on October 20 in Astana and raised
the issue of the strain transfers envisioned by the November
2004 Biological Weapons Prevention Program (BWPP) Amendment.
Shakirov, discouragingly, replied in the same vein as the
GOK did during the Joint Requirements Implementation Plan
(JRIP) talks in September. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Shakirov clung to the GOK's most recent
interpretation of the BWPP amendment - strain transfers are
to be contemplated only after the reference laboratory is
completed. He expressed concern that Kazakhstan would have
no guarantee that the lab would be built if it agreed to the
transfer up front. Ambassador Ordway replied that such a
concern might be understandable if this were the first such
agreement between the U.S. and Kazakhstan. Given the United
State's long record of fulfilling its nonproliferation
commitments to Kazakhstan, the Ambassador noted, the concern
is completely unfounded.
3. (SBU) The Ambassador also asked Shakirov to look at the
situation from a political standpoint. Kazakhstan's delay
in approving the strain transfers is highly unlikely to
resolve any delays the GOK perceives in getting the
reference lab completed. Shakirov said that while he could
understand that reasoning, MFA is but one of many agencies
involved from the GOK. Shakirov advised the Ambassador to
discuss the transfers directly with the Minister of Health,
Yerbolat Dossayev.
4. (SBU) Comment: Shakirov's discouraging comments most
likely reflect his staff's reading of the current
interagency position rather than a strongly held MFA
position. The Embassy will pursue the strain transfer issue
vigorously with the Ministry of Health. End Comment.
Ordway
NNNN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN JMUDGE
DEFENSE FOR USDP/CTR AWEBER, SCALI
DTRA FOR FSHEEHY
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM TBIO PREL KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR MEETS DFM SHAKIROV, NO
PROGRESS ON STRAIN TRANSFER
1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Ordway met with Deputy Foreign
Minister Askar Shakirov on October 20 in Astana and raised
the issue of the strain transfers envisioned by the November
2004 Biological Weapons Prevention Program (BWPP) Amendment.
Shakirov, discouragingly, replied in the same vein as the
GOK did during the Joint Requirements Implementation Plan
(JRIP) talks in September. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Shakirov clung to the GOK's most recent
interpretation of the BWPP amendment - strain transfers are
to be contemplated only after the reference laboratory is
completed. He expressed concern that Kazakhstan would have
no guarantee that the lab would be built if it agreed to the
transfer up front. Ambassador Ordway replied that such a
concern might be understandable if this were the first such
agreement between the U.S. and Kazakhstan. Given the United
State's long record of fulfilling its nonproliferation
commitments to Kazakhstan, the Ambassador noted, the concern
is completely unfounded.
3. (SBU) The Ambassador also asked Shakirov to look at the
situation from a political standpoint. Kazakhstan's delay
in approving the strain transfers is highly unlikely to
resolve any delays the GOK perceives in getting the
reference lab completed. Shakirov said that while he could
understand that reasoning, MFA is but one of many agencies
involved from the GOK. Shakirov advised the Ambassador to
discuss the transfers directly with the Minister of Health,
Yerbolat Dossayev.
4. (SBU) Comment: Shakirov's discouraging comments most
likely reflect his staff's reading of the current
interagency position rather than a strongly held MFA
position. The Embassy will pursue the strain transfer issue
vigorously with the Ministry of Health. End Comment.
Ordway
NNNN