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