KAZAKHSTAN: USCENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS' MEETING WITH FOREIGN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001422

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP, EUR/RUS, P/M

E.O. 12958: 08/20/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR MARR OSCE RS AF KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: USCENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS' MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER TAZHIN, AUGUST 13

Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland, 1.4 (A),(B),(D)


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: USCENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus met
Minister of Foreign Affairs Marat Tazhin on August 13 to discuss
U.S.-Kazakhstani military cooperation and request support for U.S.
forces in Afghanistan. Petraeus specifically requested the
deployment of Kazakhstani staff officers to the International
Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul and explosive
ordnance disposal instructors for the training facility at
Mazar-i-Sharif. He also responded to President Nazarbayev's offer of
a logistics facility in Kazakhstan. The substantive hour-long
meeting focused on Kazakhstan's concern that insecurity in
Afghanistan poses a direct threat to Central Asia through the
northward flow of Islamic militants and narcotics. Tazhin asked
Petraeus for his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan,
described Kazakhstani plans to provide humanitarian and development
assistance to Afghanistan, and urged that the United States procure
goods from Kazakhstan as part of the U.S.-Kazakhstan agreement for
the Northern Distribution Network that provides for the commercial
transit of non-lethal supplies for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Tazhin told Petraeus the improved U.S.-Russian relationship is
helpful for Kazakhstan and makes it easier for Kazakhstan to
cooperate with the United States on many issues, including
Afghanistan. END SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) General Petraeus provided a comprehensive assessment of
the situation and U.S. policy directions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He asked that Kazakhstan consider sending several staff officers to
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in
Kabul and instructors to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal training
facility in Mazar-i-Sharif. He emphasized that the personnel would
serve in noncombatant roles. Petraeus also told Tazhin that we
welcomed President Nazarbayev's offer of a logistics/transportation
hub in Kazakhstan because "we need additional capacity and a back-up
to the Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan." Petraeus mentioned that
in his earlier meeting with the Minister of Defense, he offered to
send a team of logistics experts to assess opportunities and develop
options, and the Minister accepted the offer. Tazhin listened
closely but responded, "These are questions for the Ministry of
Defense to decide." [COMMENT: This was the proper diplomatic
response, but, in fact, Tazhin will be deeply involved in deciding a
response to these requests because President Nazarbayev will take
into close consideration when deciding his response the
"sensitivities" of Kazakhstan's Central Asian neighbors and Russia,
as Security Council Chairman Suleymenov made explicit in a subsequent
meeting (septel). END COMMENT.] General Petraeus also mentioned
that technicians were working to get the Huey-II helicopters up and
running by September 6 -- as soon as the parts clear customs.

U.S. APPROACH TO AF-PAK "ABSOLUTELY CORRECT"


3. (C) Tazhin told Petraeus that Afghanistan poses a direct threat
to Kazakhstan and the rest of Central Asia because of the northward
flow of Islamic militants and narcotics. Tazhin asked Petraeus --
for whom he professed respect for his role as a "decision-maker" who
successfully resolved "a serious and tense situation" in Iraq -- to
evaluate the current situation in Afghanistan. In response to
Petraeus' description of the current U.S. "integrated approach" to
Afghanistan and Pakistan, Tazhin said this strategy is "absolutely
correct." Tazhin stated that the solution to instability in
Afghanistan includes "more than just military solutions," noting he
was concerned about what would happen when U.S. and coalition forces
eventually leave Afghanistan.

AFGHANISTAN TO BE OSCE PRIORITY


4. (C) Tazhin said encouraging stability and development in
Afghanistan will be one of Kazakhstan's priorities during its 2010
OSCE chairmanship. Tazhin called the threat from extremist groups

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and narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan "not only possible, but
real." In view of this threat Tazhin said that, despite budgetary
constraints, Kazakhstan was committed to supporting regional OSCE
institutions and the Almaty-based Central Asian Information and
Coordinating Center (CARICC) to strengthen border protection.

FREE EDUCATION FOR AFGHAN STUDENTS IN KAZAKHSTAN


5. (C) Tazhin also confirmed Kazakhstan would continue to support
stabilizing and developing Afghanistan through technical and
financial support, and is working to finalize its 2009-2011
assistance plan for Afghanistan. Tazhin said his government will
initiate a program to provide free university and college education
to 1,000 Afghan students -- primarily medical staff, agricultural
specialists, and teachers. Tazhin explicitly asked for U.S.
transportation from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan for the students.
Petraeus said we would need to consider this request, but pointed out
that "an air transportation hub" -- such as the logistics facility
President Nazarbayev has twice suggested -- might make such an
arrangement more feasible. Petraeus also noted that as the current
global financial crisis abates, Kazakhstan might consider purchasing
C-130Js and that these could also be used to help with the
transportation needs.

KAZAKHSTAN SUPPORTS THE NORTHERN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK...


6. (C) Tazhin said Kazakhstan intended to continue to support U.S.
military efforts in Afghanistan. (NOTE: Kazakhstan has provided
critical support for the U.S. effort to stabilize and reconstruct
Afghanistan, primarily by participating in the Northern Distribution
Network (NDN),and through bilateral agreements from 2001 and 2002
that allow U.S. military aircraft supporting Operation Enduring
Freedom to transit Kazakhstani air space cost-free and to make
emergency landings in Kazakhstan when conditions do not permit
landing at Kyrgyzstan's Manas Air Base. END NOTE.) Tazhin also told
Petraeus that his government hoped the United States would consider
increasing procurement in Kazakhstan, and Petraeus replied that he
recently signed a policy directive to buy locally where possible.

... AND INQUIRES ABOUT U.S.-RUSSIAN AGREEMENTS


7. (C) Tazhin also asked Petraeus about the status of U.S.-Russian
negotiations to allow the shipment of lethal goods through Russian
territory. Tazhin asked that the United States inform Kazakhstan if
it is considering shipping lethal goods by road or rail. He said he
welcomed the improved U.S.-Russia relationship, which "is completely
different from a year and a half ago." He noted this more
cooperative relationship is helpful for Kazakhstan and makes it
easier for Kazakhstan to cooperate with the United States on many
issues, including Afghanistan.


8. (U) USCENTCOM has cleared this cable.

HOAGLAND