UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SEES POSITIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 003153

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SCA/CEN FOR M. O'MARA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KZ
SUBJECT: UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SEES POSITIVE
STEPS FROM KAZAKHSTAN

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POL/ECON CHIEF STEVE FAGIN FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) and (D)

1.(SBU) UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres
and Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Marat
Tazhin signed a bilateral cooperation agreement on November
14 aimed at protecting the rights of refugees residing in
Kazakhstan. The agreement had been under negotiation for the
past two years. At a press conference following the signing,
Guterres said the agreement is "very important not only in
the framework of cooperation with Kazakhstan, but also in
interaction with all of Central Asia."
Guterres added that he was pleased to learn about
Kazakhstan's efforts to move forward on legislation providing
asylum rights for refugees. Guterres reiterated the
importance of the legislation in his meeting with President
Nazarbayev.


2. (C) At a lunch for representatives of local diplomatic
missions, Guterres praised Kazakhstan's commitment on asylum
issues. He noted that Kazakhstan has not recently deported
any refugees. Guterres said that Kazakhstan wants asylum
legislation which conforms with international standards, as
the GOK recognizes that regional and CIS agreements, such as
the Minsk agreement, are insufficient. Guterres reported,
however, that the Kazakhstanis told him that they must be
"sneaky" in working around these agreements.


3. (C) Kazakhstan's good-will on asylum issues, said
Guterres, must be placed within the framework of the "unique
pressures" it faces. Its two large neighbors, Russia and
China, have a keen interest in Chechen and Uighur asylum
claims. Moreover, Guterres stressed, Kazakhstan fears
instability in Uzbekistan. UNHCR estimates that 500,000
Uzbeks will flee Uzbekistan if there is a severe crisis in
the country. (Note: German DCM Juergen Keilholz stated that
Kazakhstani Senate Speaker Tokayev recently told him
Kazakhstan puts the number at 1,000,000. End Note.) The
Chinese are particularly difficult on the Uighur issue, said
Guterres, often providing information on asylum claims
gathered from questionable sources. Because of these external
pressures, Guterres sees Kazakhstan's willingness to finally
sign a bilateral agreement with UNHCR as a very positive
sign.


Ordway