KAZAKHSTAN OFFERS TRANSCOM "AGREEMENT IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002384 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR AF GM KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN OFFERS TRANSCOM "AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE" FOR NORTHERN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland: Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During his visit to Astana on November 21, TRANSCOM CDR General Duncan McNabb and his delegation received general agreement from the Government of Kazakhstan for its territory to be used for a non-lethal Northern Distribution Network (NDN). The Deputy Secretary of the presidential Security Council was especially forward leaning. Each Kazakhstani interlocutor suggested TRANSCOM submit its proposal through diplomatic channels to begin negotiating a bilateral agreement. It is the consensus of the Embassy and General McNabb's delegation we might be able to reach our goal through a simple exchange of letters via diplomatic note. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) TRANSCOM CDR General Duncan McNabb visited Astana November 21 to seek Kazakhstani concurrence for a Northern Distribution Network (NDN) to pass through its territory for the non-lethal support of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. General McNabb's delegation included BG Pete Lennon, RADM Harnitchek, POLAD Johnson-Casares, and Mr. Hall from DLA. MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OFFERS SUPPORT FOR NDN ¶3. (C) General McNabb and his delegation met with Deputy Minister of Defense General Bulat Sembinov to seek concurrence for a Northern Distribution Network (NDN) to transport non-military and commercial supplies to U.S. troops in Afghanistan through Kazakhstan. General Sembinov ticked off Kazakhstan's long-standing support for the United States in both Iraq and Afghanistan, including having permitted about 7,500 Coalition flights to pass over Kazakhstan free of charge. Noting that Kazakhstan currently has a transit agreement with Germany and is in the final stages of reaching a similar agreement with NATO, General Sembinov offered his support for TRANSCOM's re-supply proposal. ¶4. (C) Although not as a quid-pro-quo, General Sembinov took advantage of General McNabb's visit to ask him to support the Kazakhstani MOD's acquisition of Lockheed C130 Hercules military transport aircraft. General McNabb offered to voice his support to various Washington government agencies for Kazakhstan's desire to purchase C130 aircraft. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT ¶5. (C) At the Ministry of Transportation and Communications 
(MOTC),General McNabb met with a panel of experts who, for most of the meeting, thought they were there to negotiate final details of the NATO transit agreement, even though the Ambassador had fully briefed the minister only two days before. Both the Ambassador and General McNabb clarified, several times, that the United States is seeking an agreement separate from the NATO draft agreement. The United States would like a commercial logistical supply route through Kazakhstan for non-lethal goods for our troops in Afghanistan. The MOTC team suggested that "experts" from the U.S. and Kazakhstani sides initiate contact to begin negotiations for an agreement. SECURITY COUNCIL DEPUTY SECRETARY SUPPORTS NDN ¶6. (C) Contrary to the muddled meeting at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, General McNabb's meeting with Security Council Deputy Secretary Nurlan Abdirov was crisp, clear, and productive. Abdirov praised President-elect Obama's commitment to Afghanistan and underscored that Kazakhstan clearly understands the strategic importance of achieving stability in Afghanistan. General McNabb concurred that peace and security in Afghanistan is in everyone's interest. Emphasizing that his request is bilateral, not for NATO, he explained in detail how the United States would like Kazakhstan to participate in a Northern Distribution Network. He emphasized the cargoes would be non-lethal and that the United States would make an effort to procure needed goods in Kazakhstan. ¶7. (C) Deputy Secretary Abdirov replied, "Our interests ASTANA 00002384 002 OF 002 coincide in Afghanistan. We need a stable Afghanistan free from terrorism and other threats like narcotics." He invited General McNabb to submit a detailed proposal through normal diplomatic channels and added, "I see no reason why it should be denied." Avowing his personal support, he added he would support the proposal to his leadership. He recommended that to start immediately, "since agreements take time with bureaucracies," the United States begin using the already approved German transportation corridor through Kazakhstan. (COMMENT: We think a formal agreement might not be necessary, since this is a purely commercial proposition. See next para below. END COMMENT. NEXT STEPS ¶8. (C) Following the meeting at the Security Council, the Ambassador, DCM, DATT, and General McNabb's delegation met to concur on next steps. We recommend TRANSCOM respond expeditiously with a proposal concisely detailing its needs and plans. To avoid losing months negotiating a bilateral agreement, it was agreed the proposal should recommend that a simple exchange of letters via diplomatic note allow the Northern Distribution Network to commence through Kazakhstan. ¶9. (SBU) Embassy Astana is committed to helping open the NDN through Kazakhstan in the shortest possible time. ¶10. (C) TRANSCOM CDR General Duncan McNabb has cleared this cable. MILAS