KAZAKHSTAN"S APPROACH TO OSCE MINISTERIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 003188

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN M. O'MARA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV PHUM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN"S APPROACH TO OSCE MINISTERIAL
DEPENDENT ON CHAIRMANSHIP QUESTION

REF: STATE 157672

Classified By: CHARGE KEVIN MILAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on November 21 to
Chingiz Kaskeyev, Head of the MFA's OSCE Division. Kaskeyev
called U.S. aims for the OSCE Ministerial praiseworthy and
said that some of the areas highlighted by Poloff, such as
enhanced engagement with Afghanistan, counterterrorism, and
combating trafficking, are also of great importance for
Kazakhstan.


2. (C) Kaskeyev emphasized, however, that the "depth of
Kazakhstan's cooperation" is fully dependent on its bid to
chair the OSCE. "It will be difficult to talk of
cooperation," he said, if Kazakhstan's bid is rejected. If
Kazakhstan is not awarded the chairmanship, he added, all of
Central Asia will be less likely to actively participate in
the OSCE. "The consequences will be sad for the OSCE -
Central Asia relationship."


3. (C) Kaskeyev told Poloff that Kazakhstan has reservations
about some aspects of ODIHR's work, but has never denied its
importance. Kazakhstan believes that ODIHR has a key role to
play and should be a main channel for cooperation in Central
Asia. "If we chair the OSCE, ODIHR will be our main
partner," said Kaskeyev.


4. (C) Kaskeyev also noted that Kazakhstan is a strong
supporter of the CFE treaty. Kazakhstan, he said, hopes that
the Adapted CFE Treaty will be ratified as quickly as
possible. Kazakhstan has its own security concerns on the
Caspian and believes that the CFE treaty helps to ensure that
the region is better secured against new challenges,
according to Kaskeyev.
Milas