KAZAKHSTAN: INTEREST IN UPCOMING TIFA EVENTS

UNCLAS ASTANA 001584 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA; USTR - HAFNER, ERRION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV EFIN ETRD PREL KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: INTEREST IN UPCOMING TIFA EVENTS REF: State 78616 ¶1. (U) Econoff delivered reftel points on June 8 to Damigul Kabiyeva, Head of the WTO accession Department, and Saltanat Mukasheva, Head of the Section for Trade and Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Kabiyeva expressed a strong interest in the details of the program and welcomed the advancement of the TIFA framework. She added that Kazakhstan hopes to continue its WTO accession talks on the sidelines of the TIFA meetings. Kabiyeva floated the idea of two-day bilateral discussions with USTR, starting on July 19. ¶2. (SBU) Kabiyeva requested guidance on whether a Kazakhstani delegation headed by Vice Minister Zhanar Aitzhanova would be acceptable and appropriate in view of the U.S. invitation calling for delegations headed by a Cabinet-level minister. While mentioning the possibility that Minister of Industry and Trade Galym Orazbakov may head the Kazakhstani delegation, Kabiyeva noted that Aitzhanova has the status of a "special representative." Kabiyeva also asked whether USAID would be represented at the TIFA meetings, given its planned work in fostering regional integration. Finally, she inquired whether U.S. hosts would be providing any logistical support to visiting delegations. MILAS