KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA REACTION, MARCH 25-APRIL 1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000596 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN MARR SOCI KPAO KCRM AF RS KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MEDIA REACTION, MARCH 25-APRIL 1 ¶1. SUMMARY: During the week of March 25-April 1, there was no one topic that dominated the Kazakhstani media. Independent weekly "Delovaya Nedeleya" ran a lengthy interview with Deputy Defense Minister Bulat Sembinov regarding Kazakhstan's participation in Afghanistan, and pro-government weekly "Liter" focused on discussions of a single world currency at the G-20 summit. Opposition websites posted articles on the latest political intrigue surrounding President Nazarbayev's ex-son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev and ousted BTA bank head Mukhtar Ablyazov. An article in the pro-government press criticized Kazakhstani ministers for failing to update their blogs. END SUMMARY. DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER STRESSES SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN ¶2. The independent weekly "Delovaya Nedeleya" published an interview with Deputy Defense Minister Bulat Sembinov upon his return from bilateral meetings in the United States. Sembinov is quoted as stating that "mutual understanding on the goals of operations in Afghanistan was reached." ¶3. In the interview, Sembinov said that Afghanistan was a complex problem but emphasized that Kazakhstan could only benefit from joining these operations in a format "similar to Iraq." He stressed that the United States "highly valued" Kazakhstan's participation in Iraq, putting it in the category of the "hard work of trustworthy local partners who will not run away in case of danger." Sembinov said that it was important for Kazakhstan to maintain this image of its army and "support it with concrete actions" and noted that he would like Kazakhstani officers to become part of ISAF staff in Afghanistan. ¶4. Turning to the current situation in Afghanistan, Sembinov said media reports were far from reality and underscored that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s could not be compared to the current situation, since coalition forces, comprised of troops from 40 countries, were in Afghanistan in accordance with a UN Security Council mandate and were not "ideologically induced." Although he expressed doubt that the security situation would fundamentally improve in the next two to three years, he emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan's participation, noting that the situation in Afghanistan would have an impact on security and stability throughout the region. ¶5. On the topic of expanded U.S.-Kazakhstani military cooperation, Sembinov said that his Russian colleagues "have no fears about it" since this was happening within the framework of Kazakhstan's multi-vector foreign policy. He noted that one of Kazakhstan's key goals was modernization of its army and said that this was not possible "without cooperation with the CSTO and CIS as well as NATO and the United States." The paper quoted Sembinov as stating that Kazakhstan's military cooperation with any one country was never aimed at a third country and that this was well understood in both Russia and the United States. G-20 SUMMIT: NO CONSENSUS ON A SINGLE WORLD CURRENCY ¶6. Pro-government "Liter" reported that participants in the G-20 had "serious disagreements" about the introduction of a single world currency. The paper cited a Russian plan to implement a single world currency, noting that China and Kazakhstan earlier expressed this same position. "Liter" said that Russia was promoting the new currency as a political idea, since the dollar represented a "one-pole world" for Moscow, but that China's interest was pragmatic, since two-thirds of its gold reserves are held in dollars and U.S. bonds. The paper stated that Kazakhstan had taken on the role of a "theorist" by outlining the disadvantages of a dollar system that caused "crises and economic convulsions" and underscored the need to replace the dollar with another currency that would be controlled by an independent body. (NOTE: President Nazarbayev himself has been publicly advocating for a single world currency for several months. END NOTE.) ¶7. "Liter" acknowledged that President Obama did not see a need for ASTANA 00000596 002 OF 003 world currency and said the United States was not the only country to resist "changing horses mid-stream." The paper noted that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the G-20 would not pay much attention to a world currency and instead suggested creating a global insurance program that would allow countries to put forth claims if their currency experienced problems. "Except for the United States," wrote "Liter," "there is no other country to bring claims against." ¶8. The paper reported that the U.S. dollar was a prestigious symbol, stating that it was "very easy to get around if you have an American Express card in your pocket." "Liter" opined that in order to preserve the dollar, the United States would have to reject the temptation to start issuing money any time it feels like it and also resolve its debts. "Otherwise," the paper warned, "default will hit the United States as well as other countries." OPPOSITION PRESS SPECULATES ON PROSECUTIONS IN ABLYAZOV CASE ¶9. Opposition website "respulika.kz" published an article suggesting that "clouds are gathering" over the relatives, associates, and business partners of Mukhtar Ablyazov, the ousted head of BTA bank. "Respublika.kz" wrote that the first person to be prosecuted would be Mukhtar Dzhakishev, head of the state-owned nuclear company Kazatomprom, and the second would be businessman Nurlan Smagulov, the owner of the company Astana Group. The website commented that although Smagulov had denied that there was law-enforcement interest in his activities, it was not by chance that both Khabar and KTK television broadcast a photo of him together with Ablyazov. OPPOSITION LEADER ABILOV SPECULATES ABOUT RAKHAT ALIYEV ¶10. Kazakhstani opposition leader Bulat Abilov answered questions from the public on the independent website "zonakz.net." According to Abilov, the official investigating the 2006 murder of opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbayev was told by then Interior Minister Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov to say that Rakhat Aliyev was not involved in the killing. "As far as I know, a bargain with Rakhat is taking place now," said Abilov. "Certainly, it was suggested that he stop publishing compromising materials against the president and his people, and he was told not to publish his book." Abilov said that negotiations were going well because Aliyev had not published any material on his site that would seriously discredit the government since the beginning of the year. Abilov said that although Aliyev was 50 percent related to the murder, the "the order came from the highest levels in Astana." ¶11. When a reader questioned why Abilov had stopped criticizing President Nazarbayev directly and had started criticizing other politicians instead, Abilov replied that "criticism of Nazarbayev is not the goal." He said that although the president had concentrated all the power in his own hands, those surrounding the president played a key role, too. "Such odious figures as [Astana mayor Imangali] Tasmagambetov, [Prime Minister Karim] Masimov, and [Nazarbayev son-in-law Timur] Kulibayev must resign," he said. GOVERNMENT BLOGS ARE IDLE ¶12. Pro-government "Liter" published an article criticizing the lack of activity on government blogs. The paper noted that only three ministers had updated their blogs -- with Nauryz (Persian New Year) greetings -- over the last month. In particular, "Liter" said that Prime Minister Masimov's blog had gone from daily updates to only two entries over the course of the last month. "Liter" reported that comments such as "What are ministers' blogs for if no one answers questions?," "I won't ask anything because I'll have to wait half a month for a reply," and "Close the blog, there is no reason to spend money on it" were becoming more and more common. The paper said that this electronic platform had turned into another failed project because the ministers "lack the vision or the desire to update their blogs." ASTANA 00000596 003 OF 003 HOAGLAND