Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA412
2009-03-05 10:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: SENATE CHAIRMAN TOKAYEV PROMISES EXPEDITIOUS
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000412
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ISN, INL, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KCRM KDEM KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SENATE CHAIRMAN TOKAYEV PROMISES EXPEDITIOUS
ACTION ON CTR AGREEMENT
REF: ASTANA 0345
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000412
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ISN, INL, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KCRM KDEM KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SENATE CHAIRMAN TOKAYEV PROMISES EXPEDITIOUS
ACTION ON CTR AGREEMENT
REF: ASTANA 0345
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Senate Chairman Tokayev promised the Ambassador
on March 5 that the Senate would take swift action to pass the
Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) agreement as soon as it receives
the legislation from the Majilis. He also promised that Kazakhstan
would take into account the concerns of the United States, OSCE, and
Kazakhstan's civil society regarding draft Internet legislation.
END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) During a March 5 meeting with Senator Chairman
Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, the Ambassador pressed for expeditious
ratification of the Cooperation Threat Reduction (CTR) agreement and
new Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Finance (AML/CTF)
legislation. He also raised concerns about a draft Internet law
currently under consideration in the Majilis (the lower house of
parliament).
4. (SBU) The Ambassador told Tokayev that the Majilis passed the CTR
Agreement out of committee on March 3, and the U.S. government just
approved changes in the Kazakh-language text that the Majilis had
requested. He stressed the urgency of the agreement's swift
ratification, explaining that some of our CTR programs, notably our
biological programs, are stalled because, in the interim, Customs
will not permit us to import technical assistance tax-free. Tokayev
promised the Senate would act quickly on the agreement once the
Majilis passes it. He said he would personally oversee the
agreement's movement through the Senate, and assured the Ambassador
that the Senate would not return it to the Majilis for any
modifications.
5. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that AML/CTF legislation had passed
through a first reading in the Majilis on March 4. Adoption of the
legislation will be an important step forward for Kazakhstan in
countering money-laundering and terrorism finance, he explained. We
hope it will move forward quickly through the legislative process.
Tokayev did not appear to be aware of the details of the
legislation, but thanked the Ambassador for explaining the U.S.
position, and promised to take our views into account.
6. (SBU) The Ambassador explained to Tokayev that the current
version of the draft Internet law has raised a number of concerns
(see reftel for details). In the run up to the country's 2010 OSCE
chairmanship, Kazakhstan should consider carefully whether it is
necessary to pass any new legislation in this area. Tokayev
responded that the government sent the legislation to the Majilis,
but the Senate has not officially received a copy. He explained,
"Frankly, I'm not certain why the government is pushing for this
legislation. I don't understand all the technical details, but I
don't see how you can control the Internet." The Ambassador noted
that China has tried to control Internet access, but have not
managed to be very effective. Tokayev said he had read the letter
OSCE Freedom of the Media Representative Miklos Haraszti recently
sent to him and Majilis Speaker Ural Mukhamedzhanov expressing
OSCE's concerns about the Internet law. Tokayev promised that
Kazakhstan would be careful about the legislation, saying "We will
take into account U.S. and OSCE concerns, as well as those of civil
society and the public as a whole. I'll pass your views to the
government and Majilis. Let's continue to talk about this. We
still have time."
7. (SBU) The Ambassador previewed that he would soon deliver a
public speech about democracy to a Kazakhstani audience. Tokayev
said that democracy is no longer a contentious issue in the
bilateral relationship. "It used to be a painful question for us,
but now we can talk about it freely with you," he maintained. He
explained that he had read Secretary Clinton's remarks in Beijing,
and described them as a "positive step." "Soft power plays an
important role," Tokayev continued, "and the whole world still
believes in the United States as a beacon of democracy and justice."
ASTANA 00000412 002 OF 002
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, ISN, INL, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KCRM KDEM KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: SENATE CHAIRMAN TOKAYEV PROMISES EXPEDITIOUS
ACTION ON CTR AGREEMENT
REF: ASTANA 0345
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Senate Chairman Tokayev promised the Ambassador
on March 5 that the Senate would take swift action to pass the
Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) agreement as soon as it receives
the legislation from the Majilis. He also promised that Kazakhstan
would take into account the concerns of the United States, OSCE, and
Kazakhstan's civil society regarding draft Internet legislation.
END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) During a March 5 meeting with Senator Chairman
Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, the Ambassador pressed for expeditious
ratification of the Cooperation Threat Reduction (CTR) agreement and
new Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Terrorism Finance (AML/CTF)
legislation. He also raised concerns about a draft Internet law
currently under consideration in the Majilis (the lower house of
parliament).
4. (SBU) The Ambassador told Tokayev that the Majilis passed the CTR
Agreement out of committee on March 3, and the U.S. government just
approved changes in the Kazakh-language text that the Majilis had
requested. He stressed the urgency of the agreement's swift
ratification, explaining that some of our CTR programs, notably our
biological programs, are stalled because, in the interim, Customs
will not permit us to import technical assistance tax-free. Tokayev
promised the Senate would act quickly on the agreement once the
Majilis passes it. He said he would personally oversee the
agreement's movement through the Senate, and assured the Ambassador
that the Senate would not return it to the Majilis for any
modifications.
5. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that AML/CTF legislation had passed
through a first reading in the Majilis on March 4. Adoption of the
legislation will be an important step forward for Kazakhstan in
countering money-laundering and terrorism finance, he explained. We
hope it will move forward quickly through the legislative process.
Tokayev did not appear to be aware of the details of the
legislation, but thanked the Ambassador for explaining the U.S.
position, and promised to take our views into account.
6. (SBU) The Ambassador explained to Tokayev that the current
version of the draft Internet law has raised a number of concerns
(see reftel for details). In the run up to the country's 2010 OSCE
chairmanship, Kazakhstan should consider carefully whether it is
necessary to pass any new legislation in this area. Tokayev
responded that the government sent the legislation to the Majilis,
but the Senate has not officially received a copy. He explained,
"Frankly, I'm not certain why the government is pushing for this
legislation. I don't understand all the technical details, but I
don't see how you can control the Internet." The Ambassador noted
that China has tried to control Internet access, but have not
managed to be very effective. Tokayev said he had read the letter
OSCE Freedom of the Media Representative Miklos Haraszti recently
sent to him and Majilis Speaker Ural Mukhamedzhanov expressing
OSCE's concerns about the Internet law. Tokayev promised that
Kazakhstan would be careful about the legislation, saying "We will
take into account U.S. and OSCE concerns, as well as those of civil
society and the public as a whole. I'll pass your views to the
government and Majilis. Let's continue to talk about this. We
still have time."
7. (SBU) The Ambassador previewed that he would soon deliver a
public speech about democracy to a Kazakhstani audience. Tokayev
said that democracy is no longer a contentious issue in the
bilateral relationship. "It used to be a painful question for us,
but now we can talk about it freely with you," he maintained. He
explained that he had read Secretary Clinton's remarks in Beijing,
and described them as a "positive step." "Soft power plays an
important role," Tokayev continued, "and the whole world still
believes in the United States as a beacon of democracy and justice."
ASTANA 00000412 002 OF 002
HOAGLAND