KAZAKHSTAN: DISCUSSIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF SA-16

S E C R E T ALMATY 001956 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/PRA, SCA/CEN (MUDGE),L/PM, PM/WRA (BAKER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER MASS MARR NATO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: DISCUSSIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF SA-16 AND SA-14 MANPADS REF: A. ALMATY 895 ¶B. ALMATY 823 ¶C. STATE 26014 ¶D. STATE 26005 Classified By: POEC CHIEF DEBORAH MENNUTI FOR REASONS 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (S) Summary: Poloff met with Kazakhstani MFA official Sergey Savelyev to discuss the transfer of SA-14 and SA-16 MANPADS. Savelyev asked if the U.S. is interested in the rockets or the whole systems, if the U.S. wanted to purchase the items, and if the U.S. had made a similar request to Ukraine. Saveliev said he would discuss the issue with the decision makers and call Poloff in about two weeks. End summary. ¶2. (S) On May 22, Poloff met with Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the MFA's Department of International Organizations and Security Issues, to re-start the dialogue on the transfer of SA-16 and SA-14 MANPADS. Savelyev stated that he was under the impression that the GOK only had MANPADS rockets slated for destruction and asked if the U.S. was requesting just the rockets, or the whole system. Poloff responded that the U.S. is requesting the whole system for the SA-14 and SA-16s. ¶3. (S) Savelyev asked Poloff if the U.S. wanted to buy the MANPADS, or get them for free. Poloff explained that the MANPADS are scheduled for destruction and instead of destroying them, the U.S. is asking that they be transferred to U.S. possession. He said he would discuss it with the various decision makers and call Poloff in about two weeks to discuss whether or not Kazakhstan was willing to transfer or sell the MANPADS in question. ¶4. (S) Savelyev asked whether a similar request had been made to the Ukrainian government during the recent trust fund project there. Poloff responded that he does not follow the Ukraine and does not know the details of the Ukrainian project. ¶5. (S) Comment: Post will remain in contact with the MFA to ensure that the decision-making process moves forward. End comment. ORDWAY