Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALMATY2935
2006-08-17 12:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Office Almaty
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN WILL NOT BUDGE ON 2009 OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP
how-toVZCZCXRO3136 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTA #2935 2291221 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171221Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ALMATY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6590 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1620
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).
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
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