KAZAKHSTAN: MFA OFFICIAL URGES A POTUS VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000297

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ISN, IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2033
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID ECON KNNP IAEA RS AF KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MFA OFFICIAL URGES A POTUS VISIT

REF: A. ASTANA 0264

B. ASTANA 0268

Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a February 18 with Pol-Econ Chief,
MFA Americas Department Director Askar Tazhiyev pressed for a
POTUS visit to Kazakhstan in the near future. This would
send a clear signal to Russia that the United States remains
fully engaged in Central Asia, and would support Kazakhstan's
"multi-vector" foreign policy, he argued. Tazhiyev expressed
concerns about the flow of Afghan narcotics into Kazakhstan,
and hinted that the Kazakhstanis might be able to assist
Afghan farmers with alternative livelihood programs. He
maintained that the U.S. and Kazakhstani sides have slightly
divergent views on the focus of the Public-Private Economic
Partnership Initiative (PPEPI),and hoped that PPEPI could
accommodate both. Pol-Econ Chief told Tazhiyev that if
Kazakhstan is serious about pursuing a Middle East-South Asia
(MESA) seat on the IAEA Board of Governors, it needs to first
confirm with the MESA members that they recognize Kazakhstan
to be part of the MESA group. END SUMMARY.

MFA OFFICIAL URGES POTUS VISIT


2. (C) During a February 18 meeting with Pol-Econ Chief, new
MFA Americas Department Director Askar Tazhiyev urged a POTUS
visit to Kazakhstan in the near future. He claimed that
there is a perception that the United States has been pulling
back from Central Asia in recent years, and is not willing to
put resources and high-level political muscle into the
region, including in promoting regional integration among the
five Central Asian countries. Meanwhile, a "powerful
neighbor" - i.e., Russia -- continues to pursue its own
strategic objectives, and is increasing its influence in
Central Asia in spite of the fact that the global financial
crisis has weakened its economy. According to Tazhiyev, a
POTUS visit to Kazakhstan would send a very clear signal to
the "powerful neighbor" that the United States is not
abandoning the playing field in Central Asia, but rather
remains fully engaged in the region. It would also bolster
Kazakhstan's "multi-vector" foreign policy (which entails
balancing relations with Russia, China, the United States,
and Europe).


3. (C) A POTUS visit, Tazhiyev continued, would allow the
United States to draw attention to a successful, moderate
Muslim country, one that abandoned nuclear weapons, supports
international non-proliferation efforts, and is soon to take
over as OSCE chairman-in-office. He suggested that the visit
could be a stopover in the middle of a POTUS trip to Europe
and Asia.

CONCERNS ABOUT AFGHAN NARCOTICS


4. (C) Tazhiyev hinted that the Kazakhstanis might be willing
to do more on the economic side in Afghanistan. He explained
that the Kazakhstani government has particular concerns about
the narcotics flow from Afghanistan. Kazakhstan was once
just a transit country for Afghan narcotics, but has now
become a destination country too -- with devastating
consequences. Hence, Kazakhstan is interested in the
prospects for promoting alternative livelihoods for Afghan
farmers. There might be opportunities, he suggested, for
large Kazakhstani agricultural enterprises to help in this
area. (NOTE: As far as we know, this is the first time a
Kazakhstani government official has suggested this. We will
follow up with other interlocutors here. END NOTE.)

SLIGHTLY DIVERGENT VIEWS ON PPEPI


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5. (SBU) Tazhiyev reminded Pol-Econ Chief that he attended
Deputy Prime Minister Orynbayev's February 11 meeting with
the Ambassador and AmCham representatives to discuss next
steps on the Public-Private Economic Partnership Initiative
(PPEPI). According to Tazhiyev, the U.S. and Kazakhstani
sides still have slightly different views of the focus for
PPEPI. In his understanding, while the U.S. participants see
it principally as a vehicle for making policy recommendations
to the Kazakhstani government, the Kazakhstanis want to use
the initiative to highlight their economic reforms and thus
draw greater interest from prospective investors. He
expressed the hope that PPEPI would be able to accommodate
both objectives. Tazhiyev also said it would be helpful if
we could provide information on PPEPI-like initiatives the
United States is implementing in other countries.

IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS SEAT


6. (C) Pol-Econ Chief told Tazhiyev that former MFA Americas
Department head Talgat Kaliyev recently reiterated to him
Kazakhstan's interest in pursuing a Middle East-South Asia
(MESA) seat on the IAEA Board of Governors (ref A). Pol-Econ
Chief explained to Tazhiyev that if Kazakhstan is serious
about this, then it needs to first confirm with the other
MESA members that they recognize Kazakhstan as part of the
MESA group. The Kazakhstanis should discuss this with the
MESA members both in Vienna and in their national capitals.


7. (C) COMMENT: We recognize that many countries, following
their genuine admiration of the Obama election, are angling
for an early POTUS visit -- or an invitation to the White
House. We have heard Kazakhstan's desire for an Obama visit
from President Nazarbayev, State Secretary Saudabayev,
Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Sarybay, Foreign Minister
Tazhin, and Senate Chairman Tokayev, as well as from other
officials. As Washington invests significant energy in
resetting our relationship with Moscow based on objective
reality, it would be a powerful signal to the region that we
are not in full agreement with President Medvedev that
Central Asia is Moscow's "privileged sphere of influence."
Of course, we would also welcome visits by Secretary Clinton
and other senior U.S. officials -- for exactly the reasons
articulated by Tazhiyev. A POTUS visit could be brief, and
would not have to come with any significant deliverables. It
is the symbolism that would be the key, including the signal
it would send both to Russia and all the Central Asian states
about the importance we attach to the region and to the
sovereignty and independence of our Central Asian partners.
A POTUS visit would also provide for the face-to-face
head-of-state contact so important in developing a trusting
bilateral relationship. As an interim alternative, we would
also suggest serious consideration of an invitation to
President Nazarbayev to visit Washington. Kazakhstan is our
most reliable partner in the region, and despite an
admittedly imperfect record -- notably on democratization --
it remains a model for its neighbors, especially in such
areas as how to play a constructive international role,
implement serious economic reforms, attract foreign
investment, and develop human capital. Nazarbayev-POTUS
contact would allow us to highlight Kazakhstan's successes in
these areas. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND