Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASTANA927
2007-04-12 00:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: PUSH CONTINUES ON CTR VAT ISSUE
how-toVZCZCXRO2049 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #0927 1020050 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 120050Z APR 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9055 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0121 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0024 RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY RUEAADN/DTRA DULLES WASHDC
UNCLAS ASTANA 000927
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (M. O'MARA),SCA/RA (A.CUMMINGS)
SECDEF FOR ATSD/NCB/CT/TR AND ASD/ISP/TSP/CP/CTR
DTRA FOR BYRD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PUSH CONTINUES ON CTR VAT ISSUE
REF: A. ASTANA 906 B. ASTANA 860
UNCLAS ASTANA 000927
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (M. O'MARA),SCA/RA (A.CUMMINGS)
SECDEF FOR ATSD/NCB/CT/TR AND ASD/ISP/TSP/CP/CTR
DTRA FOR BYRD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PUSH CONTINUES ON CTR VAT ISSUE
REF: A. ASTANA 906 B. ASTANA 860
1. (SBU) On April 10, the Ambassador met with Deputy Head of
Presidential Administration Vladimir Shkolnik to urge his
support in finding a solution to the value added tax issue
threatening the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program in
Kazakhstan. Shkolnik, a former Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources and still an influential player on
non-proliferation issues, expressed confidence that the VAT
issue would be resolved and promised to do what he could to
help. The Ambassador also sent letters to the Ministers of
Finance, Health, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Foreign
Affairs reiterating the need for concrete progress by April
15. DTRA is in close contact with the members of the tax
committee, who have requested a number of documents prior to
the next meeting of the VAT Commission on April 12.
2. (SBU) Comment: Shkolnik joined the list of high-ranking
figures, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of
Finance, who have promised that the VAT issue will be
resolved before DOD's April 15 deadline. Post remains hopeful
that this high-level support will create the necessary
momentum for a quick resolution from Kazakhstan's
decision-shy bureaucracy. End comment
ORDWAY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (M. O'MARA),SCA/RA (A.CUMMINGS)
SECDEF FOR ATSD/NCB/CT/TR AND ASD/ISP/TSP/CP/CTR
DTRA FOR BYRD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PUSH CONTINUES ON CTR VAT ISSUE
REF: A. ASTANA 906 B. ASTANA 860
1. (SBU) On April 10, the Ambassador met with Deputy Head of
Presidential Administration Vladimir Shkolnik to urge his
support in finding a solution to the value added tax issue
threatening the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program in
Kazakhstan. Shkolnik, a former Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources and still an influential player on
non-proliferation issues, expressed confidence that the VAT
issue would be resolved and promised to do what he could to
help. The Ambassador also sent letters to the Ministers of
Finance, Health, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Foreign
Affairs reiterating the need for concrete progress by April
15. DTRA is in close contact with the members of the tax
committee, who have requested a number of documents prior to
the next meeting of the VAT Commission on April 12.
2. (SBU) Comment: Shkolnik joined the list of high-ranking
figures, including the Prime Minister and the Minister of
Finance, who have promised that the VAT issue will be
resolved before DOD's April 15 deadline. Post remains hopeful
that this high-level support will create the necessary
momentum for a quick resolution from Kazakhstan's
decision-shy bureaucracy. End comment
ORDWAY