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

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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

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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