Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA2080
2008-10-20 11:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: FM TAZHIN THANKS AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD

Tags:  PREL EAID EINV KISL KDEM AF KZ 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002080 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/A, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID EINV KISL KDEM AF KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: FM TAZHIN THANKS AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD
ON COMMON WORLD, DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN SUPPORT

Classified By: Ambassador Richard Hoagland, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002080

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/A, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID EINV KISL KDEM AF KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: FM TAZHIN THANKS AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD
ON COMMON WORLD, DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN SUPPORT

Classified By: Ambassador Richard Hoagland, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: During an October 17 meeting, Foreign
Minister Tazhin thanked U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Khalilzad for his attendance at the Common World ministerial.
Tazhin told Khalilzad that he expected Kazakhstan to
finalize an agreement with NATO on land transit of supplies
for Afghanistan by year's end. He promised continued
Kazakhstani government assistance for Afghanistan, but said
that the failure of a Kazakhstani company to win a tender for
an Afghan copper mine had diminished the interest of private
Kazakhstani investors in Afghanistan. END SUMMARY.

APPRECIATION FOR COMMON WORLD ATTENDANCE


2. (C) During an October 17 meeting in Astana, Foreign
Minister Marat Tazhin expressed appreciation to U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad for his
attendance at the Common World ministerial meeting. He said
that such high-level U.S. participation was very important,
especially since President Nazarbayev had first raised the
idea of the Common World initiative with President Bush, when
he visited Washington in September 2006. Tazhin explained
that the Common World had provided a rare opportunity for
such a diverse group of countries, including both the United
States and Iran, to come to agreement on a joint declaration.
He added that he was surprised that Iran, Saudi Arabia, and
the Gulf states had accepted the Astana Declaration's
language on human rights. Ambassador Khalilzad said that the
remarks delivered at the event had been less confrontational
than he had expected, though he was surprised that Russian
Foreign Minister Lavrov had chosen to focus on the Georgia
conflict rather than the main topic at hand (i.e., bridging
differences between the Muslim world and the West).

AFGHANISTAN LAND TRANSIT AGREEMENT BY YEAR'S END


3. (C) Khalilzad thanked Tazhin for Kazakhstan's support in
Afghanistan and Iraq. He explained that the situation in
Afghanistan is difficult, but there is hope for better

Afghanistan-Pakistan relations with new Pakistani President
Zardari. He stressed that additional support is needed from
the international community and the pledges from the Paris
donors' conference must be fully implemented. Khalilzad said
the United States very much welcomes Prime Minister Masimov's
upcoming visit to Kabul. As far as Khalilzad understood,
Kazakhstan is considering additional ways to help
Afghanistan, including sending officers to ISAF and allowing
land transit of NATO supplies through Kazakhstani territory.


4. (C) In response, Tazhin explained that Kazakhstan is
sending two officers to ISAF headquarters and is considering
sending medics to a medical unit. He expected a land transit
agreement to be finalized by the end of the year. The
Foreign Ministry had sent the proposed text to the Ministry
of Transport and Communications. There are no political
problems with the agreement, though Kazakhstan was not
pleased that NATO first raised the idea of a such an
agreement with the Russians and only later approached
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

DISAPPOINTMENT ON AFGHAN COPPER MINE


5. (C) Tazhin reminded Khalilzad that Kazakhstan is
implementing a $3 million humanitarian assistance program for
Afghanistan for 2008. While the financial crisis has made it
difficult to persuade the government to allocate new money,
Tazhin nevertheless expected Kazakhstan to continue providing
such assistance in future years. Khalilzad said it would be
useful if Kazakhstan could provide support, even if largely

ASTANA 00002080 002 OF 002


of a symbolic nature, to help the Afghans deal with the
winter's cold weather and food shortages.


6. (C) Tazhin told Khalilzad that the failure of Kazakhstani
copper giant KazakhMys to win last year's tender for the
Aynak copper mine had dampened the interest of private
Kazakhstani investors in Afghanistan. KazakhMys had spent a
considerable amount of money on the tender and had been
willing to build a railroad as part of the deal, but had
still lost out to a Chinese company. Tazhin said that he had
discussed this issue with National Security Advisor Hadley
during their October 2 meeting in Washington. All Kazakhstan
wants, Tazhin stressed, is a level playing field for its
investors.


7. (C) Khalilzad asked Tazhin whether Kazakhstan might be
interested in developing other resources in Afghanistan.
Tazhin explained that the greatest interest was in copper,
but noted that Kazakhstan has large oil and gas companies
that might be interested if there are the right
opportunities. Khalilzad reminded Tazhin that there is gas
in northern Afghanistan. It was developed during the Soviet
period, but nothing has happened with it in recent years.

WORKING DAILY ON DEMOCRATIC REFORMS


8. (C) Khalilzad told Tazhin that he hoped Kazakhstan would
follow through on implementing further democratic reforms.
Tazhin responded that this is an issue he is working on every
day, noting with a smile, "I start with this every morning."


9. (U) Ambassador Khalilzad has not/not cleared this cable.
HOAGLAND