C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 006272

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR, EUR/UBI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2016
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: (C) KAZAKHSTAN: UK AGREES ON DELAYING OSCE
CHAIRMANSHIP BID

REF: STATE 139361

Classified By: PolMinCouns Maura Connelly; reason 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, FCO Head of
International Organizations Department Tim Morris told Poloff
August 25 that the UK agrees with the U.S. position and
considers the timing "ideal." The EU will meet at working
level on September 8 and the UK is prepared to block any
attempt to reach a common position in support of Kazakhstan's
bid to chair the OSCE in 2009. The key question, Morris
said, is what if Kazakhstan refuses to defer its bid? The UK
will want to consult with the USG at the first sign of that.


2. (C) Morris added that the UK has been very
straightforward with Kazakhstan since 2004 and this has
not/not affected British interests in that country.

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