KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AUGUST SCO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 001510 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018 TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL AFIN KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AUGUST SCO SUMMIT REF: STATE 82513 Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Steven H. Fagin, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador raised reftel demarche points on the August SCO Summit with Foreign Minister Tazhin on August 5, stressing that the U.S. hoped that the SCO would not admit Iran to SCO membership or adopt any statement critical of the U.S. presence at Manas air base. While not responding directly, Tazhin's body language and dismissive tone indicated that he did not think either of these outcomes was very likely. ¶2. (C) Pol-Econ Chief followed up on August 12 with Nadezhda Kim, MFA Counselor for SCO issues. Kim said that the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan is a priority for all SCO member states. Kazakhstan, she explained, recognizes the importance of Manas air base to Coalition efforts in Afghanistan. Manas is thus not an issue for Kazakhstan, though she could not be certain that another country would not raise it at the SCO summit. Regarding Iran, Kim maintained that there is effectively a moratorium on expanding the SCO's membership given that consensus is required to admit new member states. ORDWAY