KAZAKHSTAN WILL NOT BUDGE ON 2009 OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALMATY 002935 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN WILL NOT BUDGE ON 2009 OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP REF: STATE 113203 Classified By: Amb. John Ordway, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: Kazakhstan has heard the U.S. message on its 2009 OSCE CiO bid but has nevertheless decided not to withdraw or defer its candidacy, according to FM Tokayev. The GOK believes it has widespread support among OSCE member states and would view withdrawing or postponing its bid as defeat. Tokayev urged the U.S. to support Kazakhstan's candidacy based on the country's overall progress since independence. The Ambassador underscored the need for any CiO to exemplify the values of the OSCE. End summary. ¶2. (C) In a one-on-one conversation with the Ambassador on August 17, FM Tokayev stated that after his July 6 meeting with Secretary Rice in Washington (reftel) he had reported the U.S. position on Kazakhstan's CiO bid to President Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev was displeased and expressed disappointment with the U.S. position. He decided to continue to actively pursue Kazakhstan's candidacy for the 2009 chairmanship. ¶3. (C) Tokayev stressed that to do otherwise would be interpreted in Kazakhstan and elsewhere as a defeat. He added that the GOK had "no right" to reject the support of other countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Slovakia, and the CIS. Tokayev claimed that only the UK and one or two other countries opposed Kazakhstan's candidacy. ¶4. (C) The Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for the Secretary's efforts to avoid embarassing Kazakhstan over the SIPDIS CiO bid. He said that in his view, the best way forward would be for the U.S. to publicly express its concerns and any pre-conditions, but nevertheless support Kazakhstan's candidacy for 2009. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador told Tokayev that he would relay his views to Washington in detail, noting that Kazakhstan's position would likely provoke serious disappointment in the USG and could lead to a more public U.S. position in opposition to the candidacy. In response Tokayev called for the U.S. to assess Kazakhstan's progress across the board since independence, rather than focusing only on human rights. The Ambassador countered that the OSCE is a values-based organization that has been focused largely on human rights and democracy issues since 1975. Any chairman in office must therefore have a strong record of respect for these principles and the ability to move the organization in the right direction. ORDWAY