KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA PRAISE INAUGURATION OF "PRESIDENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000140 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI KPAO KMDR KDEM KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA PRAISE INAUGURATION OF "PRESIDENT HOPE" ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: The Kazakhstani media's reaction to President Obama's inauguration has been overwhelmingly positive and laudatory. The coverage has ranged from detailed accounts of the inaugural speech to human interest stories only tangentially tied to the event. There have been a few dismissive comparisons with the outgoing administration, but it is noteworthy, if not surprising, that the heaviest criticisms of former President Bush are appearing in the Kazakh-language press, which caters to a more Muslim audience. END SUMMARY "PRESIDENT HOPE" ¶3. (U) "Liter," a pro-government, Russian-language daily, published two analytical articles about President Obama. In its analysis of the President's inaugural speech, "Liter" concluded that his eloquence "met people's expectations." It said that he preferred to use words like "struggle" and "challenge," while his predecessor "loved to talk about freedom." "Liter" noted that in "addressing the dilemma of the anti-terrorist campaign -- security vs. freedom -- Obama decided in favor of the latter." Reporting that Obama plans to repeal the Patriot Act and close the "well known Guantanamo prison," "Liter" asserted that, "After its two recent wars, America has decided to step away from the concept of preventative wars." The paper drew attention to the President's mention of nuclear threat reduction, saying that line "warmed the soul of Kazakhstan," since Kazakhstan was the first post-Soviet country to voluntarily abandon its nuclear arsenal. ¶4. (U) In a second analytical article called "President Hope," "Liter" quoted an "International Herald Tribune" editorial by Henry Kissinger predicting that America would no longer be able to take on a "messiah role" in international affairs without considering other countries' interests. Noting Obama's lack of international experience, the editorial expressed the hope that Obama would not "become hostage" to American foreign affairs experts who "until now have believed that America appeared on the earth first of all, and then monkeys, and only afterwards human beings." "AMERICA'S GORBACHEV"? ¶5. (U) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's "Radio Azzatyk" outlet asked several prominent Kazakhstani politicians and other public figures their opinions of the new President. Opposition figure Peter Svoik, who is Deputy Chairman of the Azat Party, called Obama "America's Gorbachev." He explained that Obama was coming to power in a time of great change, "but like Gorbachev, Obama might end up with limited influence on the processes initiated by his own reforms." Alikhan Baimenov, head of Ak Zhol -- a party usually considered to be the government's pocket opposition -- emphasized that in his speech, "Barack Obama concentrated on infrastructure, science, new technologies, renewable sources of energy, education, and cutting state expenditures. Our government should learn this (lesson). It is necessary to create infrastructure instead of creating impressive projects." Serik Abdrakhmanov, leader of the pro-pro-government Adilet Party, remarked, "Barack Obama will depart from stereotypes.... That's why, to my mind, the world will turn from confrontation to diplomacy. We'll remember his respectful attitude to different cultures, to other people." He concluded, "Barack Obama expressed his own thoughts and not (a paper) written by his assistants." Seitkazy Matayev, Chairman of the Union of Journalists, stressed "the fact Barack Obama came to power has proved to the world that there is true democracy in the United States." KAZAKH-LANGUAGE PAPERS ADD CRITIQUE OF BUSH YEARS ¶6. (U) The pro-government, Kazakh-language "Aikyn" was also very bullish on the Obama presidency. It devoted two pages to the transition. The first page catalogued the "failures of George W. Bush," summarizing events from the last eight years, such as the September 11 attacks, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Hurricane Katrina. On the facing page it glowingly covered the inauguration day events. Progressive, Kazakh-language "Zhas Alash" ASTANA 00000140 002 OF 002 took a similar tack, expressing high expectations for Obama's term in office but also unable to resist a parting shot at Bush. "None of Bush's political initiatives has brought positive results. The American people grew tired of Bush." (COMMENT: Kazakh-language newspapers cater to the ethnic Kazakh, more traditionally Muslim population largely concentrated in southern Kazakhstan. These publications tend to follow their Russian-language counterparts very closely except on issues that particularly pertain to Kazakh ethnicity and Islam. END COMMENT.) KAZAKHSTAN'S INAUGURAL QUEEN ¶7. (U) On a lighter note, official, Russian-language "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda," independent, Russian-language "Vremya," and "Liter" all profiled a student from Almaty's Al Farabi University, Gaukhar Amantayeva. A participant in the State Department's UGRAD exchange program at the University of Nebraska, Amantayeva was selected to attend the inauguration. She "took part in a festive march of students from different countries and also attended the inaugural ball." Her selection to participate in the inaugural events made her a major news story in Kazakhstan, and she was quoted as saying that her "dream is to invite Barack Obama to Kazakhstan." SENIOR OFFICIALS UNIFORMLY POSITIVE ¶8. (U) Since November, every senior official the Ambassador has met has praised the election and subsequent inauguration of President Obama, noting in one form or another, "This was true democracy in action. A presidential adviser said, "For those of us who want democracy for Kazakhstan, this election was enormously valuable. We can believe again in change. We can believe again in hope." HOAGLAND