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

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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."


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