KAZAKHSTAN: INL ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHNSON BILATERAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002201 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/AAE, SCA/CEN, EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI SNAR KCRM OSCE KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: INL ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHNSON BILATERAL MEETINGS ASTANA 00002201 001.3 OF 002 ¶1. Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During his visit to Kazakhstan for the inauguration of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) (septel),Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David T. Johnson met with Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov and Ministry of the Interior's Chairman of the Committee on Combating Drugs Zhanat Suleimenov. A/S Johnson used the opportunity to underscore the importance of Leahy vetting, which has recently become an obstacle in the selection of training participants for some ministries within the Kazakhstani government. END SUMMARY. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ¶3. (U) Following the inauguration of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) and the meeting of the parties to the CARICC memorandum of understanding on December 9 (setpel),Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) David T. Johnson met with Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Umarov to discuss a wide range of issues, including bilateral and multilateral cooperation, Kazakhstan's upcoming chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),and Leahy vetting. ¶4. (SBU) Umarov thanked A/S Johnson for U.S. assistance to CARICC and stressed the importance of sharing intelligence and information to fight drug trafficking. He highlighted effective bilateral cooperation, as evinced by the visit of FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, and said that the United States and Kazakhstan have almost concluded a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). A/S Johnson responded that we must continue to build on the CARICC Inauguration, ensuring daily interaction between the member states and observers in CARICC. He mentioned the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA's) plan to open its Almaty office by summer and the U.S. desire to be an active participant in CARICC despite our status as observers. ¶5. (SBU) A/S Johnson also pointed to signature of the annual INL letter of agreement (ALOA) as one of the best ways for the United States and Kazakhstan to cooperate in the law enforcement field and avoid misunderstandings. The Foreign Ministry delayed the FY 2010 ALOA, which remained unsigned by the end of the fiscal year. Umarov took note of A/S Johnson's request, but did not make a specific comment on the ALOA. ¶6. (SBU) Umarov briefed A/S Johnson on Kazakhstan's 2010-2020 justice reform program, which he said will make the justice system more transparent and compliant with international standards. Umarov also highlighted Kazakhstan's efforts to improve the protection of human rights in law enforcement operations. When Umarov requested U.S. assistance for legal reforms, A/S Johnson responded that he would explore potential ways that the United States could assist. Umarov explained that the Procurator General's Office is crafting a relationship with the American Bar Association (ABA) and that might be an effective avenue for bilateral cooperation. ¶7. (SBU) Umarov also briefed Johnson on his meetings during his recent trip to Washington. Umarov reiterated the need for an OSCE Summit during its chairmanship next year and suggested that the issue of Afghan origin opium could be at the top of the agenda. A/S Johnson explained that the OSCE chairmanship demanded hard work, but that the United States wants to support Kazakhstan in this effort. Again emphasizing the issue of a summit, Umarov explained that Central Asia acts as a buffer between security threats in Afghanistan and Europe. Kazakhstan, which is especially sensitive to the issue of terrorism, is key to strengthening this buffer, he asserted. Umarov also highlighted tolerance, counter-narcotics, and human rights as other possible priority issues. He explained that President Nazerbayev is well-respected on the issue of tolerance, and that Kazakhstan needs to set the example for its neighbors. A/S ASTANA 00002201 002.3 OF 002 Johnson made clear that he could make no commitment on the issue of a summit. COMMITTEE ON COMBATING DRUGS ¶8. (SBU) A/S Johnson also inaugurated the INL-funded Interagency Counter-Narcotics Training Center and met briefly with Chairman of the Committee on Combating Drugs Zhanat Suleimenov on December 9. Suleimenov works closely with the Embassy, welcomes international cooperation, and strongly advocated for the Embassy during ALOA negotiations. He promised that all deadlines for this year's agreement would be met. He described the assistance being provided by the Office of Military Cooperation and thanked A/S Johnson for INL assistance. ¶9. (SBU) Suleimenov described Kazakhstan's efforts to fight narco-trafficking from Afghanistan, mentioning its cooperation with CARICC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, though he did not clearly define what cooperation with these organizations actually entailed. Suleimenov explained that fewer foreigners have been arrested recently for drug trafficking. He said that the number of "swallowers" (i.e., those that carry drugs in their stomachs) has fallen drastically either due to the recent drop in migration or the use of new trafficking techniques. ¶10. (SBU) Suleimenov pointed out that, since tightening its laws, Kazakhstan has the toughest sentencing guidelines in the region for drug crimes. He claimed, "It doesn't matter who you are ... if you traffic heroin, you are going to prison for life." Suleimenov ruminated about Kazakhstan's problems, including the need for stronger border control and the amount of narcotics being trafficked in TIR (International Road Transport Convention) vehicles. LEAHY VETTING ¶11. (SBU) In both meetings, A/S Johnson briefed Kazakhstani officials on Leahy vetting, underscoring that it is a global legal requirement. He assured both Umarov and Suleimenov that the obligation is an important congressional requirement, not intended to single out Kazakhstan, but a way to assure ourselves, and the Congress, about whom we are providing training assistance. Umarov promised to assist and Suleimenov agreed to provide information. (NOTE: Because both appeared to focus on training programs outside Kazakhstan, Post will follow up by letter. END NOTE.) ¶12. (U) Assistant Secretary Johnson cleared on this cable. HOAGLAND