KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IAEA BOARD OF

S E C R E T ASTANA 000988 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/RA ARIEL STUKALIN AND IO/T HEATHER VON BEHREN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2023 TAGS: IAEA KNNP PREL AORC KZ SY SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS' MESA SEAT REF: STATE 55259 Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Steven Fagin, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Per reftel demarche, the Ambassador discussed Kazakhstan's putting itself forward as a candidate for the IAEA BOG's MESA seat with Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Shkolnik on May 26. Shnolnik was supportive of the idea in principle, and suggested the USG follow-up with the MFA. Pol-Econ Chief thus raised the issue with MFA Americas Department head Talgat Kaliyev on May 27. Kaliyev was positively inclined toward Kazakhstan's membership on the IAEA BOG, recognizing that this could be yet another demonstration of Kazakhstan's international leadership on non-proliferation matters. He doubted, however, that Syria would back down -- which would mean a competition between Kazakhstan and Syria and thus be problematic for the Kazakhstanis. Kaliyev promised to bring our demarche to the attention of Foreign Minister Tazhin, but asked that the USG first provide additional details on the IAEA's process for selecting a candidate to fill the seat, including whether at any point there could be a vote pitting Kazakhstan against Syria, either within the MESA group or among the full IAEA membership. He also requested a list of the countries that constitute the MESA group and asked whether Kazakhstan would additionally have to lobby non-MESA countries should it put itself forward for the seat. ¶2. (S) ACTION REQUEST: Post asks that the Department provide us the information necessary to respond to Kaliyev. We also suggest that these details be provided to DFM Yermekbayev during his meeting in Washington with Acting U/S Rood, and that UNVIE be prepared to discuss them with the Kazakhstanis in Vienna. ORDWAY