BOUCHER TO DZHAKSYBEKOV: CONCRETE PROGRESS ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ALMATY 003273 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (M. O'MARA) PLEASE PASS USTR NSC FOR MILLARD, MERKEL E.O. 193056: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM ETRD MOPS AF KZ SUBJECT: BOUCHER TO DZHAKSYBEKOV: CONCRETE PROGRESS ON DEMOCRACY NEEDED BEFORE NAZARBAYEV VISIT ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a September 8 meeting with Presidential Administration head Dzhaksybekov, Assistant Secretary Boucher outlined U.S. hopes for President Nazarbayev's upcoming visit to Washington, pressing on the importance of showing concrete progress on democratic reform. In the context of the visit, the two also discussed Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for 2009, which Dzhaksybekov said President Nazarbayev will not raise with President Bush. Dzhaksybekov highlighted Kazakhstan's efforts in the war on terrorism and requested a statement of U.S. support during the visit for Kazakhstan's early World Trade Organization accession. End summary. ¶2. (U) Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher met on September 8 in Astana with Presidential Administration head Adilbek Dzhaksybekov. The Ambassador and Pol-Econ chief (notetaker) were also present. From the Kazakhstani side, head of the MFA's European Cooperation Department Yerkin Akinzhanov participated. -------------- Nazarbayev Visit to Washington -------------- ¶3. (SBU) A/S Boucher informed Dzhaksybekov that his primary reason for visiting Astana was to discuss issues related to President Nazarbayev's upcoming visit to Washington. The U.S. expected the visit to be very positive, reflecting the strategic breadth and depth of bilateral cooperation. Kazakhstan had made significant strides on economic and energy issues, as well as on security and regional development. The President would be looking forward to hearing President Nazarbayev's views on the process of building democratic institutions, Boucher added. Noting that there had been much public discussion of Kazakhstan's democratic reform plans, including by Deputy Foreign Minister Aliyev at the recent session of the Democratization Commission, Boucher asked what new developments Nazarbayev would share with the President. A/S Boucher pointed out that the U.S. press would likely be critical of Kazakhstan's record on democracy, making it all the more important to be able to point to concrete progress. ¶4. (SBU) Dzhaksybekov responded that the Kazakhstani government is looking forward to President Nazarbayev's visit to Washington, which is viewed as one of the biggest events of the year. He noted that Kazakhstan considered its ties to the U.S. a priority, along with its relationships with Russia and China. Dzhaksybekov recalled that during the recent G-8 summit in St. Petersburg Nazarbayev had reiterated his commitment to economic and political stability while developing democratic principles. Kazakhstan strives to be a full-fledged member of the international community, in the spirit of partners such as the U.S., according to Dzhaksybekov. Although the international community sometimes criticized developments in Kazakhstan, such as recent amendments to the media law, these measures enjoy public support. In the case of the media law amendments, Dzhaksybekov said, the public demanded that the government control the situation; the amendments in question would ensure that no one could use the media to settle scores, create instability, incite interethnic hatred, or promote extremist views. On the other hand, Dzhaksybekov claimed, media that want to criticize the government "face no obstacles." He asked Boucher to inform the President that public impressions of Kazakhstan as a country without freedom of speech are not accurate; in fact, papers such as Vremya and numerous independent radio stations are often quite critical. -------------- Political Reform -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Dzhaksybekov told A/S Boucher that Nazarbayev would inform the President about the work underway on political reform. The Democratization Commission, which would work until the end of 2006, was looking at ways to strengthen the role of parliament, establish representative bodies at the ALMATY 00003273 002 OF 003 local level, ensure satisfactory conditions for political parties, increase the ability of citizens to influence their government, guarantee the independence of ministers, and preserve the role of the president as the guarantor of stability. After the Democratization Commission presents its proposals, Nazarbayev would comment on them publicly. ¶6. (SBU) A/S Boucher told Dzhaksybekov that the U.S. supports the vision of democratic reform that Kazakhstan has outlined, and recognizes that each country must find its own path. He noted that the areas that Dzhaksybekov had listed, such as strengthening the role of parliament, local representative bodies, and political parties, were important aspects of building the democratic institutions that will guarantee long-term stability. Boucher asked whether there would be concrete progress to point to during the visit, such as a new election law or the inclusion of the opposition in the Democratization Commission. The more serious and visible dialogue is taking place in Kazakhstan, Boucher noted, the more confidence others will have that progress is occurring. Dzhaksybekov did not respond to the question directly. -------------- OSCE Chairmanship Bid -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Dzhaksybekov told A/S Boucher that he had read the U.S. nonpaper on Kazakhstan's bid to chair the OSCE in 2009. "While I can't say I agree with your point of view," he added, "not obtaining the chairmanship will have no impact on the Kazakhstani economy or the internal situation." Dzhaksybekov explained that Kazakhstan was seeking to chair the OSCE for reasons of principle. U.S. support would confirm the wisdom of Kazakhstan's policy course, be seen as important moral support, and provide an example to other countries such as Russia "where there is only a faade of democracy" rather than real change from the inside as in Kazakhstan. ¶8. (SBU) Kazakhstan faces many challenges such as corruption, Dzhaksybekov conceded. Nevertheless there are a growing number of people such as managers and journalists who have an "independent mentality" and criticize the status quo. "The next government" will therefore have to listen to society, Dzhaksybekov concluded. Reiterating the work underway on political reform, including judicial reform, strengthening the independence of parliament, and expanded direct elections, Dzhaksybekov explained that Nazarbayev's policy was carefully calculated to allow Kazakhstanis to live in a free but secure society, given the risks present in the region. Under current circumstances it will "not be fatal" if Kazakhstan does not receive the chairmanship in 2009, Dzhaksybekov said. Nazarbayev would not raise the issue during his meetings in Washington. A/S Boucher agreed that the topic did not need to be debated during the visit, adding that the U.S. welcomes Kazakhstan's desire to play a more active role in the OSCE. -------------- War on Terrorism -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Kazakhstan supports the U.S. in Afghanistan and in Iraq, Dzhaksybekov reminded A/S Boucher. The Kazakhstani presence in Iraq was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain due to internal pressure, he claimed. Dzhaksybekov said that Nazarbayev's advisors have at times advised him to sQ