KAZAKHSTAN: OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS ASTANA 001341 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL OSCE KDEM KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: STATE 76294 (SBU) We delivered reftel points to MFA's Acting Director of OSCE Department Maksim Sholin. Sholin thanked us for the advance points on the OSCE Human Dimension meeting. Kazakhstan will be represented at the meeting at the appropriately high level, he said, although the final decision on representation has not yet been made. In response to the individual points raised, Sholin said that the GOK was working on fulfilling the Madrid commitments, and he expects draft laws on elections, media, and political parties to go to Parliament in the Fall. He reiterated the GOK's commitment to maintaining ODIHR's mandate intact and said he will pass our concern about lack of verbal support to FM Tazhin. On the pending religion law, Sholin said that OSCE's religious freedom expert held several meetings with the government in June, and he expects that the draft legislation will reflect OSCE's recommendations. ORDWAY