DEMARCHE TO KAZAKHSTAN ON REPATRIATED UZBEK

UNCLAS ALMATY 004480 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (JMUDGE) GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KG KZ PGOV PHUM PREF PREL TK UZ POLITICAL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO KAZAKHSTAN ON REPATRIATED UZBEK REFUGEES REF: STATE 229251 ¶1. (SBU) On the morning of December 22, PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Aidar Shakenov, Head of the Americas desk at the MFA. Shakenov had no immediate comment, but said that the message would be passed to the Foreign Minister for his information and action. Poloff emphasized the high level of USG concern about this issue and noted that Ambassador Ordway would call to follow up with Foreign Minister Tokayev later that day. ¶2. (SBU) In a subsequent phone conversation, FM Tokayev told the Ambassador that the deportations had been an "unfortunate" event and that the MFA was working to make sure it would not happen again. Tokayev stated that the MFA had not been informed prior to the deportations, which were arranged between "counterpart agencies" (note: presumably KNB and SNB) of the two governments. He said that he regretted the incident, and that he was undertaking steps to try and prevent any future recurrence of this violation of Kazakhstan's international obligations. The Ambassador intends to convey the USG's concerns to the Presidential Administration and Security Council as well. ORDWAY NNNN