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