KAZAKHSTAN: REQUEST FOR TWO SCIENCE FELLOWS

UNCLAS ASTANA 001330

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES
AGRICULTURE FOR FAS FOR ONA, OSTA, AND OCBD
ANKARA FOR REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON ETRD EAGR TSPL BEXP KSCA KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: REQUEST FOR TWO SCIENCE FELLOWS


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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post requests the assistance of two Embassy
Science Fellows for a two-week period from mid-August through
September 2009. The Fellows will work in Astana, Kazakhstan, under
the supervision of the Political-Economic Section. The Fellows must
have knowledge of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Technical Barriers to
Trade (TBT),and have practical experience in the operation of a
National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point office. No
medical or security clearance is required. The majority of the
Fellows' work will be conducted in host country government
facilities. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) As part of its WTO accession process, Kazakhstan has
passed legislation to establish an Enquiry Point and National
Notification Authority, as required by the WTO Agreement on Sanitary
and Phytosanitary Measures. However, Kazakhstan has struggled with
implementation, due to the large number of food safety and trade
ministries that must be involved in drafting SPS domestic measures
and monitoring the measures of other trade partners. The purpose of
this proposal is to provide Enquiry Point and National Notification
training that will enable Kazakhstan to better understand the
obligations and mechanisms of the WTO SPS Agreement and better
comply with transparency provisions. This would strengthen U.S.
market access as well as Kazakhstan's ability to engage in trade.
This training will assist Kazakhstan to develop mechanisms within
its government that focus on private sector input and public and
inter-agency coordination. The training will also facilitate
Kazakhstan's ability to address other technical barriers to trade,
such as veterinary certificates that serve as de facto import
licensing and labeling issues -- especially on genetically modified
organisms -- that may also limit U.S. meat, poultry, cereal, and
processed food exports to countries.


3. (SBU) Early recognition of human capital issues by WTO
accession candidates such as Kazakhstan will help avoid
overly-severe solutions, zero-tolerance policies, and other
unscientifically-based entry requirements. For these reasons, it is
imperative that the U.S. Government provide this proposed training
to assist Kazakhstani officials develop and strengthen their SPS
Enquiry Point and National Notification Offices. This will help
avoid significant trade impediments in the near future, and promote
greater transparency in the multilateral trading system.


4. (SBU) The fact that Kazakhstan recently announced it would be
suspending its effort to accede individually to the WTO and instead
work on acceding jointly with Russia and Belarus as part of a
customs union does not, in our view, obviate the need to provide the
Kazakhstanis with WTO SPS assistance.


5. (SBU) The Embassy Science Fellows are needed for a two-week
period from mid-August through September 2009. The training must be
completed by September 25, 2009. Post recommends Evelyn Alexander
and Roseanne Freese, from the U.S. SPS Enquiry Point and National
Notification Point office, be selected for the fellowships. Post
also proposes that during the first week, the fellows deliver
presentations on WTO SPS Agreement and Enquiry Point and National
Notification Authority provisions under the SPS Agreement, and meet
with Kazakhstani government officials from ministries involved in
regulating for human, animal and plant health, in order to learn
about the current state of play. During the second week, the
Fellows will conduct workshops on improving coordination and
transparency in the operation of an Enquiry Point and National
Notification Authority.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT


6. (SBU) Embassy Economics Officer Bryan Wockley will supervise the
Embassy Science Fellows. Post will schedule meetings with relevant
host government officials and provide local transportation.
USDA/Washington will pay for local transportation, hotel, and per
diem related expenses.


7. (SBU) The Regional Security Officer has reviewed and approved
this request.


8. (SBU) The Embassy point of contact is Bryan Wockley, Economics
Officer, who may be reached at 7 7172 70 2100 or
wockleybg@state.gov.

HOAGLAND