KAZAKHSTAN: MFA EAGER TO RESOLVE DETAINEE ISSUE

S E C R E T ALMATY 003086 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR S/WCI (M. STAMILO),L/PM (AHAINES),SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE, M. O'MARA) DOD FOR DOD/OGC (BEAVER),OUSD/DETAINEE POLICY (LIOTTA) NSC FOR CAMPONOVO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2016 TAGS: PTER KAWC PHUM PREL PINR KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MFA EAGER TO RESOLVE DETAINEE ISSUE REF: ALMATY 2955 Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Deborah Mennuti, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) Following up on his discussion of the issue with Foreign Minister Tokayev (reftel),the Ambassador on August 28 pressed Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov on the need for Kazakhstan to accept the return of its citizens detained at Guantanamo. The Ambassador stressed that there was no place to send the individuals other than Kazakhstan, and that the U.S. was not asking for absolute guarantees regarding their future behavior, but rather a commitment from the GOK to take reasonable steps to monitor the three men and prevent them from engaging in terrorist activities in the future. ¶2. (S) Abdrakhmanov responded that the U.S. position on the issue was clear. The GOK realized that transfer to a third country was not a workable solution, but was nevertheless concerned about the impact the individuals could have once they returned to Kazakhstan. Abdrakhmanov claimed that under Kazakhstani law, the government would have no grounds to monitor the three men as they were not accused of any crime. As the U.S. had declined Kazakhstan's request to send a consular official to Guantanamo to interview the men, the MFA was in discussions with the KNB about sending one of its experts to obtain a better idea of the individuals' intentions and mental condition. Abdrakhmanov said he was hoping for an official response from the KNB this week, and would contact post as soon as he knew more. He added that he hoped to reach agreement on the issue with the U.S. before President Nazarbayev's upcoming visit to Washington. ORDWAY