DASD CAGAN URGES KAZAKHSTAN TO INCREASE NUMBER OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 002813 SIPDIS SIPDIS SCA/CEN FOR M. O'MARA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017 TAGS: MARR OVIP PREL KZ SUBJECT: DASD CAGAN URGES KAZAKHSTAN TO INCREASE NUMBER OF TROOPS IN IRAQ Classified By: CHARGE KEVIN MILAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On October 10, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Coalition, Peacekeeping, and Multinational Cooperation Debra Cagan urged Kazakhstan to increase its troop commitments in Iraq. In meetings with Deputy Minister of Defense Sembinov, State Secretary Saudabayev, Deputy Foreign Minister Sarybai, and Security Council Deputy Secretary Abdirov, Cagan noted that Kazakhstan, a peaceful, SIPDIS multi-ethnic society, can be a particularly positive example for Iraq. She suggested that Kazakhstan contribute 80 light infantry troops for static security or increase the size of its sapper unit from 29 to 100 troops. Cagan's interlocutors promised to consider the request but made no commitments and asked that the Embassy provide a formal note with the request. State Secretary Saudabayev implied that a decision would be tied to support for Kazakhstan's bid to chair the OSCE in 2009. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In a October 10 meeting with Deputy Minister of Defense Sembinov, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Coalition, Peacekeeping and Multinational Cooperation Debra Cagan noted that while Sembinov was in Iraq, General Petraeus had asked him to provide additional troops in Iraq. She also emphasized the humanitarian value of Kazakhstan's explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) mission, a message that she reiterated in all of her meetings and that seemed to resonate with the Kazakhstanis. Sembinov said that Kazakhstan is capable of increasing its troop levels but that it is a political question. He also underlined Kazakhstan's commitment in Iraq. "We began together, and we will finish together," he said. ¶3. (C) DASD Cagan thanked State Secretary Saudabayev for Kazakhstan's contributions in the Global War Against Terrorism and told him that Iraq can learn a valuable lesson from Kazakhstan, which has created a stable, peaceful multi-ethnic society. Saudabayev (Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the United States for eight years) responded that he is aware that General Petraeus has asked for more Kazakhstani troops. He noted, however, that Kazakhstan's actions in Iraq "do not always make its neighbors happy." He then segued into a discussion of Kazakhstan's bid to chair the OSCE in 2009, saying that only the U.S. and U.K are opposed to Kazakhstan's candidacy, although he did tell Cagan that a group of U.S. Congressmen have written a letter in support of Kazakhstan's bid. Saudabayev told Cagan that he will be in the United States from November 5 to November 17. He requested her assistance in arranging a meeting with Secretary of Defense Gates in order to gain his support for Kazakhstan's OSCE bid and asked to meet Cagan in Washington to follow-up on the request for additional personnel. According to Saudabayev, Kazakhstan will not be able to make a decision on the request for additional troops until after the new year (Note: A decision on Kazakhstan's OSCE Cio bid is expected at the Madrid OSCE Ministerial on November 29-30). ¶4. (C) Unlike Saudabayev, Security Council Deputy Secretary Abdirov was unaware of General Petraeus' request for additional Kazakhstani troops. Abdirov said that Kazakhstan must consider domestic opinion on Iraq, as well as the views of its Central Asian neighbors. DASD Cagan replied that Kazakhstan should consider the long-term. Iraq will remember Kazakhstan's help. She pointed to South Korea as a country that has been able to reap economic benefits in Iraq after providing humanitarian assistance. He agreed with Sembinov's assessment that the Kazakhstani military is capable of an increased commitment. Abdirov promised to work on the request, but admitted that his capabilities are limited. He asked that the U.S. make a formal request for additional troops through diplomatic note. ¶5. (C) DASD Cagan told Deputy Foreign Minister Sarybai that the U.S. would welcome either a Kazakhstani company to provide static site security or an increase in the number of Kazakhstani sappers. Cagan said that EOD work is increasing in importance as more guns and explosives are discovered in Iraq. Sarybai suggested that a plus-up of sappers would be more acceptable for the GOK. Sarybai indicated that Kazakhstan would like to meet the request, but also turned the focus to the OSCE, saying that the U.S. and Kazakhstan have had their disagreements on the topic, and that the chairmanship is "not just a prestige issue for Kazakhstan (Note: DASD concluded that saying yes to the request for additional personnel is not in and of itself a difficult proposition, but it must be de-linked from the OSCE chairmanship question to succeed. End Note). ¶6. (U) DASD Cagan has cleared this cable. ¶7. (U) Minimize considered. MILAS