Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA2053
2009-11-19 01:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: SUBSTANCE BEFORE SUMMIT
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UNCLAS ASTANA 002053
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/PRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SUBSTANCE BEFORE SUMMIT
UNCLAS ASTANA 002053
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/PRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SUBSTANCE BEFORE SUMMIT
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a November 16 dinner, representatives
from the Embassies of Italy, Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands
reasserted that their governments' insistence on substance before
they commit to a 2010 OSCE Summit. Several participants noted the
Foreign Ministry's emphasis on its willingness to hold the Summit
outside of Kazakhstan. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) At a dinner in honor of McKenzie Smith, Deputy Director of
the Russia, South Caucuses, and Central Asia Directorate in the UK
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, representatives from the European
Union, United Nations, and the Embassies of Italy, Spain, the UK,
and Netherlands discussed Kazakhstan's proposal to host a summit
during its 2010 Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Recently returned from accompanying
President Nazarbayev to Italy, Italian Ambassador Bruno Antonio
Pasquino clarified that his government has agreed only in principle
to a summit. The Italian President and Prime Minister told
President Nazarbayev that they need an agenda before fully
committing. Both UK Charge Mike Welch and Smith concurred that the
Kazakhstani government must determine the event's substance first.
They reported that the Foreign Ministry conveyed its willingness to
consider any topics that the UK wishes to propose.
4. (SBU) Dutch Ambassador Frans Potuyt and Spanish DCM Beltran de
Agueda also reported their respective governments' conditional
support, which depends upon the summit's substance. Most
representatives cited European security as the most likely summit
topic even though they believe that the Corfu process will not
conclude before the end of 2010. At the same time, they concurred
with Pol/Econ Chief when she raised U.S. concerns that this topic
could disrupt progress on the Corfu process.
5. (SBU) The Dutch Ambassador also pointed out, which the UK Charge
confirmed, Kazakhstan's willingness to hold the summit outside its
territory. They highlighted Helsinki and Vienna as possible venues.
The Dutch Ambassador asserted that the government of Finland has
welcomed the proposed summit. Meanwhile, the UK's Deputy Director
said the OSCE Secretariat would probably prefer to hold the summit
in Vienna. The Dutch Ambassador reminded guests that the government
of Kazakhstan had approached The Hague about hosting its proposed
high-level meeting on tolerance. He appeared relieved that the
government of Kazakhstan now prefers to have this event in Astana at
the Palace of Peace and Harmony (aka, the Pyramid). When the topic
of the April 2010 Global Nuclear Security Summit arose, UN Resident
Coordinator Haoliang Xu expressed skepticism that the international
community could manage so many meetings in one year.
SPRATLEN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/PRM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SUBSTANCE BEFORE SUMMIT
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a November 16 dinner, representatives
from the Embassies of Italy, Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands
reasserted that their governments' insistence on substance before
they commit to a 2010 OSCE Summit. Several participants noted the
Foreign Ministry's emphasis on its willingness to hold the Summit
outside of Kazakhstan. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) At a dinner in honor of McKenzie Smith, Deputy Director of
the Russia, South Caucuses, and Central Asia Directorate in the UK
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, representatives from the European
Union, United Nations, and the Embassies of Italy, Spain, the UK,
and Netherlands discussed Kazakhstan's proposal to host a summit
during its 2010 Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Recently returned from accompanying
President Nazarbayev to Italy, Italian Ambassador Bruno Antonio
Pasquino clarified that his government has agreed only in principle
to a summit. The Italian President and Prime Minister told
President Nazarbayev that they need an agenda before fully
committing. Both UK Charge Mike Welch and Smith concurred that the
Kazakhstani government must determine the event's substance first.
They reported that the Foreign Ministry conveyed its willingness to
consider any topics that the UK wishes to propose.
4. (SBU) Dutch Ambassador Frans Potuyt and Spanish DCM Beltran de
Agueda also reported their respective governments' conditional
support, which depends upon the summit's substance. Most
representatives cited European security as the most likely summit
topic even though they believe that the Corfu process will not
conclude before the end of 2010. At the same time, they concurred
with Pol/Econ Chief when she raised U.S. concerns that this topic
could disrupt progress on the Corfu process.
5. (SBU) The Dutch Ambassador also pointed out, which the UK Charge
confirmed, Kazakhstan's willingness to hold the summit outside its
territory. They highlighted Helsinki and Vienna as possible venues.
The Dutch Ambassador asserted that the government of Finland has
welcomed the proposed summit. Meanwhile, the UK's Deputy Director
said the OSCE Secretariat would probably prefer to hold the summit
in Vienna. The Dutch Ambassador reminded guests that the government
of Kazakhstan had approached The Hague about hosting its proposed
high-level meeting on tolerance. He appeared relieved that the
government of Kazakhstan now prefers to have this event in Astana at
the Palace of Peace and Harmony (aka, the Pyramid). When the topic
of the April 2010 Global Nuclear Security Summit arose, UN Resident
Coordinator Haoliang Xu expressed skepticism that the international
community could manage so many meetings in one year.
SPRATLEN