KAZAKHSTAN ASKS FOR GREATER USG ASSISTANCE ON GI

UNCLAS ASTANA 001500 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/WDMT, EUR/SCA, AND T: TIM KATSAPIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KGIC KNNP KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ASKS FOR GREATER USG ASSISTANCE ON GI EXERCISE ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. 3. ¶2. (SBU) On August 12, we met with Sergey Saveliyev, MFA's Deputy Director of International Security Department, to discuss the upcoming seminar on battling nuclear terrorism organized under the auspices of Global Initiative. The seminar will take place September 10-13 in Ust-Kamenogorsk at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. Saveliyev thanked us for publicizing the event on the GI portal, but asked if the USG could formally pass the invitation to Global Initiative members via our Embassies. He said several states already expressed interest in sending representatives, and support from the USG, the co-founder of the Initiative, should greatly increase awareness of the event. The MFA would like to finalize the list of attendees by August 25. ¶3. (SBU) Saveliyev also told us that the GOK wants to include one day of seminar activities aimed specifically at Central Asian states. This idea came out of the recent GI meeting in Madrid, he said, where the question of increasing regional cooperation received special attention. He expressed hope that the USG would support this initiative and actively encourage other Central Asian states to attend. ¶3. (U) We would appreciate Department guidance on the proper response to Kazakhstan's requests. ORDWAY