KAZAKHASTAN: GUIDANCE SOUGHT ON ASSISTANCE TO

UNCLAS STATE 030227

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHASTAN: GUIDANCE SOUGHT ON ASSISTANCE TO
U.S. TOBACCO FIRM

REF: A. ASTANA 584

B. STATE 6604


1. (SBU) This is in response to post,s request for guidance
as to whether to support Philip Morris,s request for the
Ambassador to sign a letter of support for Phillip Morris,s
application to join Kazakhstan,s &Foreign Investors,
Council.8 While the Department does not think that an
Embassy letter in support of Phillip Morris,s application
would violate the USG,s prohibition against promoting the
sale of tobacco, to be safe we would instead strongly
recommend sending a generic letter or statement indicating
that the Embassy supports inclusion in the Foreign
Investors, Council of all eligible US companies without
naming Phillip Morris specifically.
RICE