KAZAKHSTAN: GOK AGREES TO THE TRANSFER OF

UNCLAS ALMATY 003245 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/WCI (WITTEN),L/PM (AHAINES),SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),DOD/OGC (BEAVER),OUSD/DETAINEE POLICY (LIOTTA),NSC (CAMPONOVO) SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER KAWC PINR PREL KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: GOK AGREES TO THE TRANSFER OF KAZAKHSTANI DETAINEES REF: A. State 146996, B. Almaty 3086 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: This is an action request. The Government of Kazakhstan has agreed to receive the transfer of the Kazakhstani detainees at Guantanamo Bay, according to Kazakhstani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Officer Ualikhan S. Sanginkhanov. Post requests Department guidance on the mechanism of the actual transfer, time line, language for the agreement of assurances, and all information regarding the three Kazakhstani detainees approved for release. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On September 14, Poloff met with Ualikhan S. Sanginkhanov, Head of the MFA's Division of Europe and America, Department of Consular Services, to pass Ref A talking points on the President's speech on Guantanamo. Saginkhanov invited the head of the consular department and a representative from the security services to the meeting, and used the opportunity to inform Poloff that the GOK had agreed to receive the transfer of the Kazakhstani detainees at Guantanamo Bay. ¶3. (SBU) Saginkhanov suggested that the GOK would welcome the transfer of the detainees via a U.S.-funded flight, and asked that Post send the MFA a diplomatic note with a detailed description of all of the steps of a proposed transfer and an estimated timeline. He also requested that the U.S. provide the MFA with all information it has on the detainees, including their backgrounds, what type of terrorist activities or support they were involved in, and all pertinent information on their incarceration at Guantanamo. (Note: Post notes that it has passed the MFA material on the three detainees approved for release, but requests Washington forward all releasable information on the individuals, whether already passed or additional material. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Saginkhanov asked if the assurances that are required of them prior to the transfer need to be signed in paper format, or if they can be agreed to verbally. Poloff confirmed that the agreement needed to be in written form, and promised to provide the text of the agreement. ¶5. (SBU) Finally, Saginkhanov requested that Kazakhstan's cooperation on this matter be publicly announced to portray their cooperation in a positive light. He suggested that the pending visit of Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev to the U.S. would present a good venue for such an announcement. ORDWAY