DEMARCHE TO KAZAKHSTAN ON FORCE ADJUSTMENT

UNCLAS ALMATY 004488 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL MARR MOPS IZ KZ ECONOMIC POLITICAL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO KAZAKHSTAN ON FORCE ADJUSTMENT REF: STATE 229319 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador phoned Foreign Minister Tokayev late December 22 and told him that we would be making a force adjustment announcement, and that details would be provided to the Ministry the next day. Poloff then delivered reftel demarche in full on December 23 to Aidar Aitashev, First Secretary, MFA Department of Asia and Africa. Aitashev is SIPDIS the primary MFA working level contact on issues relating to Iraq and Afghanistan. He expressed appreciation for the information, and noted that it would be passed to Minister Tokayev. ¶2. (SBU) Immediately following Poloff's meeting with MFA, DATT delivered reftel points to Major General Almaz Abdulmanov, First Deputy to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Operations and Plans Department of the Joint Staff. Abdulmanov is DATT's primary interlocutor on issues concerning the Kazakhstani contingent in Iraq. Abdulmanov accepted the information, ordered it translated immediately, and said he would brief MINDEF Altynbayev later on December 23. ORDWAY NNNN