KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON RUSSIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 001608

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON RUSSIAN
RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA

REF: (A) STATE 91894 (B) STATE 91366

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


1. (C) The Deputy Chief of Mission delivered ref A demarche
on Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to DFM
Kairat Sarybay on August 27. The DCM also raised the
Kazakhstan-specific points from ref B, and noted that
Kazakhstan was in a unique position of influence because of
its good relations with both Russia and Georgia. In
response, Sarybay expressed Kazakhstan's concerns about the
latest developments and promised to expeditiously pass the
USG position to his superiors. He told the DCM that "you
know well our position on Northern Cyprus, in spite of our
good relations with Turkey, and our position on Kosovo, in
spite of our good relations with the U.S. and the EU."
(Comment: Sarybay was alluding to Kazakhstan's support for
territorial integrity and opposition to separatism as a
matter of principle. The DCM deployed the Kosovo points from
ref B to explain why Kosovo is a unique case and not a
precedent for other conflicts. End Comment.) Sarybay noted
that President Nazarbayev would be meeting with Russian
President Medvedev in Dushanbe on the margins of the SCO
summit, perhaps as early as this evening (i.e., the evening
of August 27). Kazakhstan's official position on Russia's
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia should become
clearer after that meeting. In the interim, the government
is under orders to stay silent and make no public statements,
Sarybay explained.
ORDWAY