KAZAKHSTAN AGREES TO JOINT DEMARCHE ON

UNCLAS ASTANA 001567 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER KGIT KGIC KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN AGREES TO JOINT DEMARCHE ON UST-KAMENOGORSK GI EXERCISE REF: STATE 89185 ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) We delivered reftel points to Fairzarkhman Kasenov, Advisor at the MFA's International Cooperation Department. Kasenov gladly welcomed the USG proposal to pass the invitation for the upcoming GI exercise via a joint demarche and promised to get us Kazakhstan's proposed draft shortly. He noted, however, that Kazakhstan is not represented in twenty-three GI member-states, namely Bosnia, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cote d' Ivore, Cyprus, Ireland, Iceland, Madagascar, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Montenegro, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, the Seychelles Islands, Sweden, and Zambia. After discussing several options, we agreed that the best way to jointly reach these governments would be either through their Washington embassies or via posts where Kazakhstan has embassies accredited to several countries, such as London. Kasenov also floated the idea of USG forwarding the invitation via dipnote, but we stressed the need for Kazakhstan to maintain the lead in encouraging attendance. Kasenov said that while the MFA hopes for global attendance, its priority is securing the participation of other Central Asian states. (Note: To date, only the USG, Canada, and South Korea have confirmed attendance. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) Post requests further guidance on coordinating the joint demarches, especially in GI countries where there is no Kazakhstani embassy. ORDWAY