KAZAKHSTAN: DISCUSSIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF MANPADS

S E C R E T ALMATY 002871 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/PRA, SCA/CEN (MUDGE),L/PM, PM/WRA (BAKER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER MASS MARR NATO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: DISCUSSIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF MANPADS REF: A. ALMATY 895 ¶B. ALMATY 823 ¶C. STATE 26014 ¶D. STATE 26005 Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Deborah Mennuti, 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 said that his office had given its opinion that the weapons systems should not be transferred, but should be destroyed. This is not the MFA's final decision, but the opinion of his office. Sevelyev also said that he was under the impression that the Trust Fund was only destroying the MANPADS rockets and not the whole systems. End summary ¶2. (S) During previous trips to Astana, Poloff had attempted to schedule meetings with the MFA on the transfer of SA-16 and SA-14 MANPADS, however, the Department of International Organizations and Security Issues and the European and American Affairs Department both claimed that the issue should be resolved by the other office, and neither would meet with Poloff. On August 2, 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 MANPADS transfer. ¶3. (S) Savelyev said that his office had given its opinion that the GOK should not transfer the MANPADS, but should destroy them. He stated that the Trust Fund is more than a joint U.S. Kazakhstani project and it would be too difficult and risky to try to hide the transfer of such weapons. He also said that it was his belief that the Trust Fund was only scheduled to destroy the MANPADS rockets and not the whole systems. Savelyev said that now that his office had made its recommendation, the proposal was on the desk of the head of the Department of European and American Affairs for a final decision. ¶4. (S) Comment: Post intends to elevate this issue to the deputy foreign minister level. End comment. ORDWAY