Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA353
2009-02-27 01:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI'S OFFICE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN
how-toVZCZCXRO4085 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #0353 0580153 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 270153Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4739 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1257 RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0639 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1345 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0340 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0089 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2174 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2502 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0818 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0734 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ASTANA 000353
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL/IRF, ECA/A/L, NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KISL KIRF KPAO EG KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI'S OFFICE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOWS AT ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
REF: ASTANA 0249
UNCLAS ASTANA 000353
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL/IRF, ECA/A/L, NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KISL KIRF KPAO EG KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI'S OFFICE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOWS AT ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
REF: ASTANA 0249
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: As a follow-up to the Ambassador's recent
discussion with Chief Mufti and Head of the Spiritual Association of
Muslims in Kazakhstan (SAMK) Abasasttar Derbisali (see reftel),
Regional English Language Officer (RELO) and Branch Public Affairs
Officer (BPAO) met with Nurzhan Makhanov, Chief of External
Relations and Protocol for SAMK, on February 19. After much
discussion, Makhanov agreed that the best place to put English
Language Fellows would be at the Islamic University of Almaty.
Pending the Chief Mufti's approval, Makhanov suggested the Embassy
meet with the rector of the Islamic University. The Embassy
believes that this is a positive sign. END SUMMARY.
INITIAL RESISTANCE
3. (SBU) Makhanov began by summarizing the meeting between the
Chief Mufti and the Ambassador. He said that after much
consideration, he did not support putting English Language Fellows
at the three major madrassas for two reasons. First, the students
at the madrassas already study Russian, Kazakh, and Arabic, and
would be overburdened by adding English. Second, Russian or
Kazakh-speaking English teachers would be necessary. In response,
RELO and BPAO said that perhaps English could be offered as an
extra-curricular subject to motivated, talented language-learners
and not as a mandatory part of the curriculum. They also strongly
made the case that English needs to be taught only in English.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOWS AT ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
4. (SBU) Makhanov then suggested that the Islamic University
would be a better fit for English Language Fellows -- an idea that
had already occurred to PAS. Emboffs mentioned how Al Azhar
University in Cairo, Egypt, has hosted English Language Fellows for
several years; is the most respected and oldest Islamic University
in the world; and also helped establish the Islamic University in
Almaty. This information seemed to please Makhanov, and the meeting
quickly became much more positive and collegial. RELO and BPAO also
noted that PAS Cairo had helped Al Azhar set up an English Language
Resource Center, and that establishing such a center in Kazakhstan
would allow students at the Islamic University and SAMK staff to
study English. This idea was greeted warmly by Makhanov, and he
mentioned that he would like to participate in such training.
NEXT STEPS
5. (SBU) The meeting concluded by Makhanov stating that he would
contact his colleagues at Al Azhar to find out more about their
experiences with the English Language Fellows program. He said that
if the Chief Mufti agrees, the Embassy should next meet with the
rector of the Islamic University. We believe this is a positive
development.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, IIP, DRL/IRF, ECA/A/L, NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KISL KIRF KPAO EG KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CHIEF MUFTI'S OFFICE EXPRESSES INTEREST IN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOWS AT ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
REF: ASTANA 0249
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: As a follow-up to the Ambassador's recent
discussion with Chief Mufti and Head of the Spiritual Association of
Muslims in Kazakhstan (SAMK) Abasasttar Derbisali (see reftel),
Regional English Language Officer (RELO) and Branch Public Affairs
Officer (BPAO) met with Nurzhan Makhanov, Chief of External
Relations and Protocol for SAMK, on February 19. After much
discussion, Makhanov agreed that the best place to put English
Language Fellows would be at the Islamic University of Almaty.
Pending the Chief Mufti's approval, Makhanov suggested the Embassy
meet with the rector of the Islamic University. The Embassy
believes that this is a positive sign. END SUMMARY.
INITIAL RESISTANCE
3. (SBU) Makhanov began by summarizing the meeting between the
Chief Mufti and the Ambassador. He said that after much
consideration, he did not support putting English Language Fellows
at the three major madrassas for two reasons. First, the students
at the madrassas already study Russian, Kazakh, and Arabic, and
would be overburdened by adding English. Second, Russian or
Kazakh-speaking English teachers would be necessary. In response,
RELO and BPAO said that perhaps English could be offered as an
extra-curricular subject to motivated, talented language-learners
and not as a mandatory part of the curriculum. They also strongly
made the case that English needs to be taught only in English.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOWS AT ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
4. (SBU) Makhanov then suggested that the Islamic University
would be a better fit for English Language Fellows -- an idea that
had already occurred to PAS. Emboffs mentioned how Al Azhar
University in Cairo, Egypt, has hosted English Language Fellows for
several years; is the most respected and oldest Islamic University
in the world; and also helped establish the Islamic University in
Almaty. This information seemed to please Makhanov, and the meeting
quickly became much more positive and collegial. RELO and BPAO also
noted that PAS Cairo had helped Al Azhar set up an English Language
Resource Center, and that establishing such a center in Kazakhstan
would allow students at the Islamic University and SAMK staff to
study English. This idea was greeted warmly by Makhanov, and he
mentioned that he would like to participate in such training.
NEXT STEPS
5. (SBU) The meeting concluded by Makhanov stating that he would
contact his colleagues at Al Azhar to find out more about their
experiences with the English Language Fellows program. He said that
if the Chief Mufti agrees, the Embassy should next meet with the
rector of the Islamic University. We believe this is a positive
development.
HOAGLAND