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


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