Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA1499
2008-08-12 06:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN - DAS KROL DISCUSSES IAEA BOG, MADRID

Tags:  PREL IAEA EAID PGOV KDEM KZ 
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VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTA #1499 2250647
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 120647Z AUG 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3005
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0603
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0059
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 001499 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PREL IAEA EAID PGOV KDEM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - DAS KROL DISCUSSES IAEA BOG, MADRID
COMMITMENTS, REGIONAL ISSUES WITH SENIOR MFA OFFICIALS

Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Steven H. Fagin, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 001499

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PREL IAEA EAID PGOV KDEM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - DAS KROL DISCUSSES IAEA BOG, MADRID
COMMITMENTS, REGIONAL ISSUES WITH SENIOR MFA OFFICIALS

Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Steven H. Fagin, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In a July 22 meeting in Astana, SCA DAS George Krol
stressed to DFM Kairat Sarybai the urgency of Kazakhstan's
moving forward on its candidacy for the MESA seat on the IAEA
Board of Governors (BOG). Sarybai said he has heard from
Vienna that most of the Arab members of the MESA group have
reached a consensus on supporting Syria. Krol responded that
this was not the case; there is no consensus on Syria's
candidacy. Sarybai responded that the Kazakhstani government
is still weighing the pros and cons and a final decision on
Kazakhstan's candidacy could not be taken until FM Tazhin
returns from leave at the beginning of August. He explained
that Kazakhstan is hesitant to run for the BOG because this
may compromise its relations with Arab countries.


2. (C) Krol informed Sarybai that SCA Assistant Secretary
Boucher would be appearing in front of the Helsinki
Commission of Congress on July 22 to discuss Kazakhstan's
progress toward meeting its Madrid commitments on democratic
reform and the recent OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in
Astana. Sarybai said that he understands the importance of
fulfilling the commitments that FM Tazhin made in Madrid;
however, the initiative for reforms is driven by Kazakhstan's
own interests and will proceed at a pace determined by
domestic factors. Sarybai did note, however, that
Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE chairmanship provides further impetus
for Kazakhstan to move forward on democratic reforms.


3. (C) Krol and Sarybai also discussed stability in Central
Asia. Sarybai said that the Kazakhstani government is
preparing for all possible situations that may arise this
winter in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. He
explained that the government is implementing a "secret" food
fund that could be used to aid its Central Asian neighbors if
a food crisis arises later this year. Sarybai also noted
that a new center for preventative diplomacy established in
Ashgabat with UN participation could be a useful tool for
promoting regional cooperation and dealing with regional
problems such as food, water, and electricity.


4. (C) DAS Krol met separately DFM Nurlan Yermekbayev on July
24 in Almaty. Yermekbayev reiterated to Krol that FM Tazhin
wants to hold off on finalizing a decision on Kazakhstan's
IAEA BOG candidacy until he returns from leave. Krol
informed Yermekbayev that this issue has reached the highest
levels of the USG and that Under Secretary Burns plans to
raise it directly with the Russians. Yermekbayev said that
the Kazakhstani government would take this under
consideration when making its final decision. Krol and
Yermekbayev also discussed the potential food and water
crises in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as Yermekbayev was en
route to Tajikistan when he met with DAS Krol. Yermekbayev
agreed that the U.S. and Kazakhstan should work together in
promoting stability in these two countries, and further
pushed the idea of raising water security at the Ashgabat
preventative diplomacy center.
ORDWAY