Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA240
2009-02-10 11:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV SIGNS MADRID
how-toVZCZCXRO7294 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #0240 0411105 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 101105Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4572 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1156 RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0553 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1259 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2045 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2143 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2471 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0730 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0646 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ASTANA 000240
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV SIGNS MADRID
LEGISLATION, REACTION MUTED THUS FAR
REF: (A) 08 ASTANA 2388
(B) 08 ASTANA 2256
UNCLAS ASTANA 000240
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV SIGNS MADRID
LEGISLATION, REACTION MUTED THUS FAR
REF: (A) 08 ASTANA 2388
(B) 08 ASTANA 2256
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) In following through on Kazakhstan's Madrid commitments on
democratic reform, President Nazarbayev signed into law new
legislation on political parties and the media on February 6 and
legislation on elections on February 9.
3. (SBU) The public reaction to the legislation's signing has been
somewhat muted thus far, perhaps because most news outlets are still
focused on the February 4 devaluation of Kazakhstan's currency.
Most civil society activists have not publicly reacted to the
signing. However, Tamara Kaleyeva, the head of the respected media
watchdog NGO "Adil Soz," said that although she would have like to
see the new media law go further, it is nevertheless "a step towards
further democratization." Kazakhstan's opposition parties, several
of whom previously called on Nazarbayev to veto the laws, have
stayed unusually silent since he signed the legislation. The
leaders of the Azat party were the only ones to make a statement,
publicizing their criticism of the laws and announcing that the
party will hold protest rallies on February 21.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Even if the new laws do not go as far as we --
or some of Kazakhstan's opposition and civil society leaders --
would have liked, they represent a step forward on the long path
toward democratization. We should recognize this, while continuing
to press Kazakhstan for further progress, including Kazakhstan's
continued cooperation with the OSCE and ODIHR in bringing its laws
better in line with OSCE standards. The new legislation is also a
victory for President Nazarbayev's more liberal advisors, including
Foreign Minister Tazhin and State Secretary Saudabayev. Progress on
the Madrid commitments was stalled during the first half of 2008,
until Nazarbayev publicly commented on them for the first time in a
June 29, 2008, address to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Astana
-- a step which the liberals apparently persuaded him to take.
After then, the bureaucracy stepped up to the plate, and the
legislation began to move forward. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV SIGNS MADRID
LEGISLATION, REACTION MUTED THUS FAR
REF: (A) 08 ASTANA 2388
(B) 08 ASTANA 2256
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) In following through on Kazakhstan's Madrid commitments on
democratic reform, President Nazarbayev signed into law new
legislation on political parties and the media on February 6 and
legislation on elections on February 9.
3. (SBU) The public reaction to the legislation's signing has been
somewhat muted thus far, perhaps because most news outlets are still
focused on the February 4 devaluation of Kazakhstan's currency.
Most civil society activists have not publicly reacted to the
signing. However, Tamara Kaleyeva, the head of the respected media
watchdog NGO "Adil Soz," said that although she would have like to
see the new media law go further, it is nevertheless "a step towards
further democratization." Kazakhstan's opposition parties, several
of whom previously called on Nazarbayev to veto the laws, have
stayed unusually silent since he signed the legislation. The
leaders of the Azat party were the only ones to make a statement,
publicizing their criticism of the laws and announcing that the
party will hold protest rallies on February 21.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Even if the new laws do not go as far as we --
or some of Kazakhstan's opposition and civil society leaders --
would have liked, they represent a step forward on the long path
toward democratization. We should recognize this, while continuing
to press Kazakhstan for further progress, including Kazakhstan's
continued cooperation with the OSCE and ODIHR in bringing its laws
better in line with OSCE standards. The new legislation is also a
victory for President Nazarbayev's more liberal advisors, including
Foreign Minister Tazhin and State Secretary Saudabayev. Progress on
the Madrid commitments was stalled during the first half of 2008,
until Nazarbayev publicly commented on them for the first time in a
June 29, 2008, address to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Astana
-- a step which the liberals apparently persuaded him to take.
After then, the bureaucracy stepped up to the plate, and the
legislation began to move forward. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND