KAZAKHSTAN - LETTERS DELIVERED REQUESTING

UNCLAS ASTANA 001710 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DOE FOR NNSA KELLY CUMMINS AND CATHERINE KENNEDY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC ENRG PREL KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - LETTERS DELIVERED REQUESTING ADDITIONAL BN-350 FUNDING REF: STATE 89507 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, the Ambassador on September 8 hand-delivered a letter requesting $13 million in additional Kazakhstani financial support for the BN-350 spent fuel disposition program to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev. Mynbayev promised to review the letter carefully, but also commented that requesting more funding for 2009 was "out of his hands" as the 2009 budget has already been sent to Parliament for review and approval. Mynbayev indicated that a parliamentarian may be able to introduce changes to the budget during Parliament's review process, but he made no commitment to support such an effort. Mynbayev added that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources maintains a small contingency reserve, but said it would be insufficient to cover the sum of money requested. ¶2. (SBU) On September 9, we delivered by diplomatic note reftel's follow up letter from Ambassador Ordway to Prime Minister Masimov, with a similar request for additional BN-350 financial support. We will report back official responses from Mynbayev and Masimov when they are received. ORDWAY