KAZAKHSTAN: GENERAL WALD,S MEETING WITH SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALMATY 000425 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE, M. O'MARA) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2016 TAGS: PREL MOPS OVIP KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: GENERAL WALD,S MEETING WITH SECURITY COUNCIL CHAIR UTEMURATOV; JANUARY 20, 2006 REF: A. 05 ALMATY 3731 ¶B. 05 ALMATY 3729 Classified By: DCM Mark Asquino, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) Participants: U.S. European Command Deputy Commander General Charles F. Wald Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense James MacDougall Charge Mark Asquino Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. Corson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Lee Kazakhstan Security Council Chairman Bulat Utemuratov Deputy Security Council Chairman Maulen Ashimbayev Major General A.K Abdulmanov Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhoshybayev ¶2. (C) Summary: On January 20, EUCOM Deptuty Commander General Wald met with the Chairman of Kazakhstan's Security Council, Bulat Utemuratov, to discuss Caspian Security issues. General Wald said that the goal of the European Command's Caspian Guard program was to provide training, equipment and coordination to Caspian basin countries. Chairman Utemuratov said that Kazakhstan was interested in American help to strengthen Caspian security -- especially equipment that would help it respond to emergency situations. He said the major problem hindering cooperation among Caspian basin countries was the unresolved status of efforts to demarcate the sea's national boundaries. Utemuratov also raised the possibility of Kazakhstani cooperation with the U.S. on the PSI initiative. End Summary Cooperation Between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan -------------- - ¶3. (C) General Wald began the meeting by noting that he had just come from Azerbaijan where he had discussed Caspian security cooperation with President Aliyev and members of his government. The General noted that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was crucial for the security of the entire Caspian region. The goal of the European Command's Caspian Guard program was to provide training, equipment and coordination to Caspian basin countries. This included assistance to assure the inter-operability of equipment such as radios and coordination of security strategies and procedures. With the exception of Iran from which no cooperation was possible at this time, the U.S. hoped Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Russia would all become involved in joint Caspian security efforts. Such cooperation was needed to combat increasing security threats to the region, which included an upswing in terrorist acts supported by Al Qaida as well as an increase in narcotics trafficking. Solving The Problem of Caspian Security -------------- ¶4. (C) Chairman Utemuratov said that Kazakhstan was interested in American help to strengthen Caspian security -- especially equipment that would to respond to emergency situations. The major problem hindering cooperation among Caspian basin countries was the unresolved status of efforts to demarcate the sea's national boundaries. He noted that Kazakhstan had a good bilateral relationship with Azerbaijan and had begun to discuss cooperation in the Caspian. However, Russian agreement was needed, as well as that of Turkmenistan, if joint Caspian security efforts were to be successful. Utemuratov suggested that the issue of Caspian Security should be a topic on the agenda of the upcoming meeting between Presidents Nazarbayev and Bush in Washington "that is being planned." ¶5. (C) General Wald thanked the Chairman, and said that the European Command would be pleased to host a coordination meeting at its headquarters in Stuttgart to discuss the Caspian Guard program with representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Russia. One area for future discussion might be how to coordinate efforts between the Border Guard's maritime forces and the Navy, a subject that had been raised during his visit to Azerbaijan. The General also said that the European Command would be happy to arrange a visit to the Mediterranean so that Kazakstani specialists could observe how security was handled there. Chairman ALMATY 00000425 002 OF 002 Utemuratov indicated interest in the latter possibility. Possible Cooperation on PSI -------------- ¶6. (C) As the meeting was coming to a close, Chairman Utemuratov alluded to Under Secretary Joseph's October 2005 meetings in Ust-Kamenogorsk with President Nazarbayev and Foreign Minister Tokayev (reftels). In the latter meetings, the Under Secretary had asked for Kazakhstan's participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Utemuratov emphasized that as Chairman of the Security Council, this issue was an issue that he had been asked to address. He said that he would be pleased to meet with Embassy representatives to discuss PSI. ORDWAY