KAZAKHSTANI SURVEY TEAM IDENTIFIES PRIORITIES IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000158 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS, DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (M. O'MARA),SCA/A (N. SINGH) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN EINV MARR NATO AF KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANI SURVEY TEAM IDENTIFIES PRIORITIES IN AFGHANISTAN REF: ALMATY 3296 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Kazakhstan will focus on humanitarian assistance, participation in investment projects, and broadening commercial ties with Afghanistan, according to the Deputy Foreign Minister who led the recent survey team to Kabul and two northern provinces. As a regional leader, Kazakhstan needs to participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is not able to participate militarily or to lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team at this time, however. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Charge met with Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov on October 3 to discuss the conclusions of the Kazakhstani survey team which visited Afghanistan the week of September 24. Abdrakhmanov, who led the team, expressed appreciation for U.S. and ISAF support for the team's visits to Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Maimana. ¶3. (SBU) Kazakhstan needs to be represented in Afghanistan in a way that corresponds to Kazakhstan's status as a regional leader, Abdrakhmanov said. The team's meetings with national and local leaders had revealed great demand for both assistance and investment. As a result, Abdrakhmanov stated, Kazakhstan would focus on three tracks of engagement: humanitarian assistance, participation in investment projects, and commercial ties. ¶4. (SBU) Kazakhstani military participation "is impossible at this point," according to the Deputy Foreign Minister, because of threats by the Taliban and Al Qaeda against Muslim nations that send troops to Afghanistan. Abdrakhmanov added that Kazakhstan was not ready to consider leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT),in part due to the significant cost. He noted that the GOK would look at the possibility of implementing certain projects via PRTs, as well as through UNOPS. -------------- Forms of Engagement -------------- ¶5. (SBU) With regard to humanitarian assistance, Abdrakhmanov mentioned that Kazakhstan was considering helping to train Afghanistan's police, armed forces, and medical personnel. ¶6. (SBU) Kazakhstan would also consider upcoming tenders for copper, iron ore, oil, and gas exploration, he said. Abdrakhmanov speculated that the opportunities in Afghanistan were probably too small for a Western oil major like Chevron, but might be a good fit for Kazakhstani firms. Abdrakhmanov mentioned that the survey team had seen the Kabul Grain Elevator project as a potential investment opportunity. He cautioned that Kazakhstani economic engagement would depend on the final form of Afghan legislation now under consideration to create the legal framework for tenders and foreign investment. He added that the team's conversations with Afghan leaders had given them confidence that the government was on the right track toward creating a solid legal framework. ¶7. (SBU) Abdrakhmanov said that the survey team had seen opportunities to expand commercial ties between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, despite significant competition from other suppliers in the region. He mentioned possible sales of grain for human consumption and animal feed, as well as leasing of agricultural machinery. -------------- Next Steps -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The next step will be to obtain interagency agreement on allocating budget money for the various areas of engagement, Abdrakhmanov said. He expressed confidence that funding approval would be forthcoming, given President Nazarbayev's personal engagement on the issue. Abdrakhmanov added that he understood that Kazakhstan's engagement in Afghanistan had been discussed during President Nazarbayev's recent meeting with Vice President Cheney in Washington, as well as during Foreign Minister Tokayev's meeting with Secretary Rice. The Charge told Abdrakhmanov that Embassy Astana was ready to help facilitate Kazakhstan's engagement with Afghanistan. The Deputy Foreign Minister cautioned that the GOK's decision-making might take a little time, as Kazakhstan had to be certain that it could ASTANA 00000158 002 OF 002 fulfill any obligations it takes on. ¶9. (SBU) Abdrakhmanov concluded by saying that the survey trip had been the beginning of what would be long-lasting cooperation between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. He added that the team had been quite impressed with the professionalism, vision of the future, and knowledge of the national and regional leaders with whom the team met in Afghanistan. The visit had left the survey team quite optimistic about the potential for Kazakhstan's involvement, while at the same time aware of the many problems Afghanistan still faces in the form of security threats, narcotics trafficking, and corruption. MILAS