Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA2583
2008-12-31 09:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON THE FIFTH

Tags:  PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC KZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7781
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RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #2583/01 3660904
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 310904Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4256
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0999
RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0398
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1104
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0473
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0570
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002583 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/WMDT (SARAH PRESCOTT AND MEGGEN WATT),
SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON THE FIFTH
GLOBAL INITIATIVE MEETING TO BE HOSTED BY THE NETHERLANDS
IN JUNE 2009

REF: A. STATE 133442

B. ASTANA 01867

C. ASTANA 02566

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002583

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/WMDT (SARAH PRESCOTT AND MEGGEN WATT),
SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON THE FIFTH
GLOBAL INITIATIVE MEETING TO BE HOSTED BY THE NETHERLANDS
IN JUNE 2009

REF: A. STATE 133442

B. ASTANA 01867

C. ASTANA 02566


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In conjunction with the Ambassador from
the Netherlands and a representative from the Embassy of the
Russian Federation, PolOff delivered reftel A points on the
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism's upcoming
meeting, to be held in the Netherlands on June 16-17, 2009,
on December 30 to Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Multilateral
Cooperation. Savelyev said Kazakhstan would "almost
certainly" send a high-level delegation and promised to
inform the governments of the United States, Russia and the
Netherlands promptly once the MFA made a decision on
representation. Savelyev also deliberately reiterated
Kazakhstan's commitments to host two Global Initiative
exercises in 2009, although he did not provide any concrete
information. Despite the shuffling of several senior MFA
positions, the MFA has not notified post of any significant
staffing changes in the offices under the direction of Deputy
Foreign Minister Danenov that would affect Kazakhstan's
choice of representation at the upcoming June Global
Initiative meeting in the Netherlands. Savelyev's
enthusiastic support in the December 30 meeting for Global
Initiative activities reflects the government of Kazakhstan's
interest in being recognized for its involvement in
international organizations, particularly when events involve
high-level officials. On the working-level, however,
Kazakhstan,s commitments may be stretching its resourcesAQW,
particularly in terms of personnel. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) In conjunction with the Ambassador from the
Netherlands and a representative from the Embassy of the
Russian Federation, PolOff delivered reftel A points on the
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism's upcoming
meeting, to be held in the Netherlands on June 16-17, 2009,

on December 30 to Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Multilateral
Cooperation.


4. (SBU) Savelyev stated that the government of Kazakhstan
considers the Global Initiative to be a very important
element in its counter-proliferation strategy. He noted that
Kazakhstan was one of the first nations to join the Global
Initiative, and that it has recently hosted three events,
including the third high-level plenary in June 2007 and two
exercises in 2008. Savelyev also emphasized that Kazakhstan
is a member of many major international counter-proliferation
organizations in addition to the Global Initiative, such as
the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Proliferation Security
Initiative, and that Kazakhstan is a signatory to the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.


5. (SBU) Savelyev noted that Deputy Foreign Minister Danenov
participated in the 2008 Madrid meeting of the Global
Initiative. He stated that although it was too early to say
for certain, he hoped that Danenov would lead a delegation to
attend the June 16-17 event in the Netherlands. Savelyev
also remarked that regardless of who led the delegation,
Kazakhstan would "almost certainly" send a high-level
delegation. Savelyev said he would report any specific
information on Kazakhstan,s intended representation for the
Global Initiative,s June meeting as soon as higher-level MFA
officials made a decision.


6. (SBU) Whether due to the approaching New Year holidays or
pleasure at having an invitation to the Netherlands to convey
to Deputy Foreign Minister Danenov, Savelyev appeared to be
in unusually good spirits during the demarche. (COMMENT:

ASTANA 00002583 002 OF 003


Savelyev, whose educational background is in chemistry, has
commented on previous occasions that he has over 15 years
experience in non-proliferation. Perhaps because of his
extensive experience, as Deputy Chief of the Multilateral
Cooperation Department, Savelyev oversees a broad portfolio.
Savelyev is the first point of contact for most of post's
non-proliferation demarches, including demarches related to
the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Proliferation Security
Initiative, the Global Initiative to Counter Nuclear
Terrorism, the Prevention of Nuclear Smuggling Program and
demarches related to Iran, Syria and North Korea. Savelyev
is also involved in matters relating to Kazakhstan's
cooperation with the United States in Afghanistan. Savelyev
often comments that his department is extremely busy, and
Savelyev's former assistant frequently complained to PolOff
that the Multilateral Cooperation Department was
"overwhelmed" by assignments. During the December 30
meeting, however, a relatively relaxed Savelyev deliberately
raised the topic of Kazakhstan's commitments to host two
Global Initiative exercises in 2009.)


7. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Savelyev's comments on
Kazakhstan's plans to host two Global Initiative exercises in
2009, though welcome, were a bit surprising, because in
September and October, Savelyev had repeatedly avoided
providing specific information about Kazakhstan,s plans for
Global Initiative events in 2009. In the December 30
meeting, Savelyev still expressed uncertainty about the
details, declaring that the events "might be held in Astana,
or perhaps in Ust-Kamenogorsk" and "might be hosted by the
Kazakhstani Atomic Energy Committee (KAEC),or possibly by
the National Security Committee (KNB)." PolOff was further
surprised to hear either of these two entities mentioned as
possible event planners. PolOff has worked closely with
representatives of KAEC to plan a Department of State-led
Prevention of Nuclear Smuggling Exercise to be held in
February 2009, and KAEC has not mentioned potentially hosting
a Global Initiative exercise. In fact, KAEC has repeatedly
underscored its busy schedule for the next year and its
commitments to prepare for International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) activities in March. The KNB did not play a
noticeable role in the September Global Initiative Exercise
in Ust-Kamenogorsk and did not participate in December
planning meetings for the proposed February 2009 Prevention
of Nuclear Smuggling Exercise. Nevertheless, Savelyev,s
statement in the December 30 meeting reflects the government
of Kazakhstan's interest in being recognized for its
involvement in international organizations, particularly when
events involve high-level officials. On the working-level
and in practical terms, however, Kazakhstan,s commitments
sometimes tend to stretch its resources, particularly in
terms of personnel, as was illustrated when Kazakhstan hosted
a Global Initiative exercise in Ust Kamenogorsk in September
(reftel B).


8. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: The MFA has not notified post
of any significant staffing changes in the offices under the
direction of Deputy Foreign Minister Danenov following Deputy
Foreign Minister Sarybay's reassignment to be presidential
foreign-policy adviser, therefore, post has no information
that would suggest anyone other than Danenov would attend the
June Global Initiative meeting. Within the Kazakhstani MFA,
most departments fall within parallel reporting channels
being directed to two Deputy Foreign Ministers. Deputy
Foreign Minister Danenov supervises the Multilateral
Cooperation Department, whereas the Americas Department
reports to Deputy Foreign Minister Sarybay. Deputy Foreign
Minister Sarybay was assigned on December 26 to the
prestigious position of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to
President Nazarbayev. Although technically reporting through
different channels, Savelyev works closely with the Chief of
the Americans Department, Talgat Kaliyev, who is close to

ASTANA 00002583 003 OF 003


Sarybay. Savelyev sometimes almost defers to Kaliyev,
particularly on issues related to the Cooperative Threat
Reduction Agreement.


9. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Although the December
reshuffling at the MFA may not have any direct and immediate
impact on Kazakhstan's participation in the Global
Initiative, PolOff has observed that the Multilateral
Cooperation Department and its mid-level MFA staff are being
tasked simultaneously with supporting multiple initiatives.
Over the last four months, Savelyev has asked Post to
coordinate with four young, talented assistants, each of whom
seems bright, capable and has had various "international"
experience, but none of whom seems to have extensive
background in non-proliferation. Kazakhstan's desire to play
a leading role in international organizations may be taxing
not only a thin bench of experienced diplomats, but also many
mid-level diplomats, like Savelyev and his assistants (reftel
C). END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND