Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA2051
2009-11-18 07:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN STILL MULLING UN IRAN RESOLUTION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 002051
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PHUM UNGA PREL IR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN STILL MULLING UN IRAN RESOLUTION
REFTEL: STATE 116263
Classified By: Charge d' affaires, a. i. Pamela Spratlen: 1.4 (b),
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASTANA 002051
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PHUM UNGA PREL IR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN STILL MULLING UN IRAN RESOLUTION
REFTEL: STATE 116263
Classified By: Charge d' affaires, a. i. Pamela Spratlen: 1.4 (b),
(d)
1. (SBU) On November 17, PolOff met with Assel Utegenova, head of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Cultural and Humanitarian
Cooperation Division, to deliver reftel points on country-specific
resolutions at the United Nations. Utegenova conveyed that
Kazakhstan is still considering its position on the Iran
country-specific resolution. On the no-action motion, she confirmed
that the Government of Kazakhstan is considering moving from support
to abstention. She said the Foreign Ministry has faced "heavy
lobbying from various interests" on the issue, presumably from the
Iranian mission. In considering its position, the MFA must weigh not
only the country's geographical proximity to Iran, but also
Kazakhstan's 2011 chairmanship of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC),she stressed. "We are both Muslim-majority
countries," she remarked. PolOff noted that before its OIC
chairmanship, Kazakhstan will chair the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010. Poloff stressed that a "no"
vote on the no-action motion and a "yes" vote on the resolution
condemning Iran's human rights record would demonstrate Kazakhstan's
commitment to OSCE principles. "This is one aspect we are
considering," responded Utegenova.
2. (C) COMMENT: The Charge will reinforce our points when she meets
with President Nazarbayev's foreign policy advisor Kairat Sarybai
later this week. Considering President Nazarbayev's long-standing
policy of balancing competing interests and Iran's apparent activism
on the issue, it is unlikely that Kazakhstan will reverse its past
voting record and support the country-specific resolution that
condemns Iran's human rights record. On the other hand, the
government appears open to abstaining on the no-action motion. We
should continue to pursue this opening. END COMMENT.
SPRATLEN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019
TAGS: PHUM UNGA PREL IR KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN STILL MULLING UN IRAN RESOLUTION
REFTEL: STATE 116263
Classified By: Charge d' affaires, a. i. Pamela Spratlen: 1.4 (b),
(d)
1. (SBU) On November 17, PolOff met with Assel Utegenova, head of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Cultural and Humanitarian
Cooperation Division, to deliver reftel points on country-specific
resolutions at the United Nations. Utegenova conveyed that
Kazakhstan is still considering its position on the Iran
country-specific resolution. On the no-action motion, she confirmed
that the Government of Kazakhstan is considering moving from support
to abstention. She said the Foreign Ministry has faced "heavy
lobbying from various interests" on the issue, presumably from the
Iranian mission. In considering its position, the MFA must weigh not
only the country's geographical proximity to Iran, but also
Kazakhstan's 2011 chairmanship of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC),she stressed. "We are both Muslim-majority
countries," she remarked. PolOff noted that before its OIC
chairmanship, Kazakhstan will chair the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010. Poloff stressed that a "no"
vote on the no-action motion and a "yes" vote on the resolution
condemning Iran's human rights record would demonstrate Kazakhstan's
commitment to OSCE principles. "This is one aspect we are
considering," responded Utegenova.
2. (C) COMMENT: The Charge will reinforce our points when she meets
with President Nazarbayev's foreign policy advisor Kairat Sarybai
later this week. Considering President Nazarbayev's long-standing
policy of balancing competing interests and Iran's apparent activism
on the issue, it is unlikely that Kazakhstan will reverse its past
voting record and support the country-specific resolution that
condemns Iran's human rights record. On the other hand, the
government appears open to abstaining on the no-action motion. We
should continue to pursue this opening. END COMMENT.
SPRATLEN