(S) KAZAKHSTAN UNABLE TO TRANSFER MANPADS

S E C R E T ALMATY 003080 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE, M. O'MARA),EUR/PRA, L/PM, PM/WRA (BAKER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER MASS MARR NATO KZ SUBJECT: (S) KAZAKHSTAN UNABLE TO TRANSFER MANPADS REF: ALMATY 2871 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Deborah Mennuti, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (S) In an August 28 meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov informed the Ambassador that Kazakhstan would not be able to turn over MANPADS slated for destruction in the NATO Trust Fund project to the U.S. as requested (reftel). Abdrakhmanov said that several bilateral agreements with Russia prevented Kazakhstan from doing so. The GOK also believed that such a transfer would violate its obligations in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). ¶2. (SBU) Abdrakhmanov said that Kazakhstan was eager to move forward with the NATO Trust Fund project to destroy small arms and light weapons, including MANPADS. He believed the next step would be for NATO and/or the U.S. to approach the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense to finalize the agreement on destruction. ORDWAY