EUCOM DEPUTY COMMANDER GENERAL WALD,S MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALMATY 000411 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/RPM, SA (JGASTRIGHT),NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 TAGS: MARR PINS PTER PREL KZ POLITICAL SUBJECT: EUCOM DEPUTY COMMANDER GENERAL WALD,S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER TOKAYEV, JANUARY 20, 2006 Classified By: DCM MARK L. ASQUINO, REASONS: 1.4 (A) (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) Participants: U.S. European Command Deputy Commander Charles F. Wald Charge Mark Asquino Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense James MacDougall Rear Admiral Michael J. Lyden, J4 Director of Logistics and Security Assistance, EUCOM Brigadier General Melvyn Spiese, J5/J8, Deputy Director for Plans, Strategies, and Assessments, EUCOM Astana Principal Officer Lynne Tracy (notetaker) Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. Corson, Deputy Executive Officer to General Wald Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev MFA Chief of Staff Yerzhan Ashykbayev MFA Americas Division Office Director Serzhan Abdykarimov MFA Americas Desk Officer Aidar Shakenov MFA Press Spokesman Ilyas Omarov ¶2. (C) Summary. During a January 19-20 visit to Astana, EUCOM Deputy Commander General Charles Wald met with Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev to discuss regional security issues. The FM expressed appreciation for the role of NATO in Afghanistan and indicated plans to participate in the London Afghanistan Donors, Conference, January 31-February ¶1. Responding to the General,s call for greater Caspian Sea security cooperation, Tokayev cautioned that the views of neighbors had to be taken into account, but also saw room for engagement along the lines described by the delegation. The FM reiterated Kazakhstan,s commitment to developing multiple outlets for its oil and gas supplies. Finally, Tokayev conveyed Astana,s concerns about Iran,s anti-Israeli statements and nuclear ambitions. End Summary. NATO ) A High Priority -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to General Wald's remarks on regional security, FM Tokayev emphasized the high priority that Kazakhstan placed on cooperation with NATO. Astana did not see Kazakhstan,s IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plan) as contradicting other treaty commitments, and had cautioned Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that Kazakhstan values NATO. Kazakhstan, Tokayev continued, was grateful for NATO,s engagement in Afghanistan and wanted to play its part by assisting in Afghanistan,s reconstruction. Tokayev said that he intends to participate in the January 31-February 1 Afghanistan Donors Conference in London. (Note: The FM offered no specific areas of intended assistance/contribution. End Note.) Guarding the Caspian -------------- ¶4. (C) General Wald underscored the strategic importance of Central Asia and the need for enhanced security cooperation, particularly on the Caspian Sea, to interdict nuclear materials smuggling, the movement of terrorists, and human trafficking. Azerbaijan, he noted, has installed surveillance equipment on its Caspian coastline. The United States hoped to see a &maturing8 of its Caspian Guard initiative that is designed to promote greater capacity and cooperation on border security, particularly between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. ¶5. (C) Tokayev responded that Caspian Sea cooperation is &complicated.8 While bilateral partnerships are a fairly straightforward matter, the dispute with Iran on the appropriate principle for allocating rights to the seabed hampers any multi-lateral cooperation. The FM acknowledged concern about the security threats outlined by the General. Kazakhstan, though, would have difficulty accepting U.S. proposals that included U.S. military personnel on its soil similar to U.S. &installations8 in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that Kazakhstan must proceed carefully and take into account the views of its neighbors, especially Russia, on such matters. ¶6. (C)) DASD MacDougall clarified that the United States had not set up its own "installations8 in Azerbaijan or was it preparing to permanently station troops there. Rather, the United States was providing equipment and training that would enhance Azerbaijan,s own security capabilities. The U.S. was providing American contract personnel who were in Azerbaijan on temporary basis to provide such assistance. ¶7. (C) The General underscored that security is not a zero sum game. Russia, he said, has a contribution to make. U.S. interest in facilities in the region, he explained, is focused on access for logistical support such as re-fueling. DASD MacDougall also expressed appreciation for the access that Kazakhstan has granted in support of operations in Afghanistan and expressed U.S. interest in continuing that relationship. Tokayev welcomed these assurances, and indicated that broad, Caspian security cooperation and assistance, including access, could go forward on this basis. Multiple Pipelines Is the Name of the Game -------------- ¶7. (C) Expanding on the Caspian neighbors theme, Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan is encouraging Turkmenistan to play a more active and cooperative role on military and gas issues. Kazakhstan recognized the need for alternative pipelines and multiple suppliers, and thus Turkmenistan was an important factor in Kazakhstan,s strategy to diversify its outlets. Tokayev said that he had just made the point on developing multiple suppliers to visiting Georgian Speaker Borjanadze. Iran -- A Source of Concern -------------- ¶8. (C) Returning to the theme of Iran, Tokayev related that he had met with the Iranian delegation during President Nazarbayev,s January 11 inauguration. The FM used that opportunity, he said, to underscore Kazakhstan concerns over President Ahmadinejad,s recent statements on Israel, which had the potential to destabilize the Middle East as well as Eurasia. He noted that while Kazakhstan,s relationship with Iran was not a close one, Astana did have opportunities to raise its concerns with Teheran on such issues. The FM said that the historical schism between Shiites and Sunnis was the source of continuing tensions in the Islamic world. He expressed concern that there would be a strengthening of ties between a Shiite-led government in Iraq and Iran,s radical Shiites. ¶9. (C) Kazakhstan was also watching Iran,s nuclear ambitions closely. Tokayev estimated that Iranian pride and jealousy over Pakistan,s position as a nuclear power were in part fueling Iran,s nuclear program. The FM expressed satisfaction that Iran,s behavior had been referred to the UN Security Council. Diplomatic measures, including possible sanctions, should be employed, he said. He added that he thought that the Russians and Chinese would abstain rather than vote to block such sanctions. The General encouraged increased information sharing because of Iran,s record of supporting terrorists and passing on nuclear technology. ORDWAY