Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA94
2009-01-20 00:53:00
SECRET
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: CENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS MEETS PRESIDENT
how-toVZCZCXRO0169 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHNP RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHTA #0094/02 0200053 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 200053Z JAN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4364 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 1047 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0445 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0236 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1151 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 0620 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY 0535 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2458 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2130
S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 03 ASTANA 000094
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P, SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, NEA/IR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF IR RS KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS MEETS PRESIDENT
NAZARVAYEV, JANUARY 14
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
***********************
ASTANA 00000094 002.2 OF 003
fully gave up that status. I tell them it would be to their
benefit to be non-nuclear. That would draw new assistance
and investment." General Petraeus said he again fully agreed
with the president, but noted Iran's policy is determined by
the Revolutional Guard al-Quds Force commander, not by
President Ahmedinejad or the Foreign Ministry. Nazarbayev
noted he had once talked to Ahmedinejad for two and a half
hours about such issues, "but in the end I realized I had
just wasted my time." He said Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Khameni told him that even if Iran compromises on the nuclear
issue, the United States would always find another reason to
criticize "because they hate us -- all the United States
wants is to conquer the entire region and steal the oil."
General Petraeus interjected, "We could have bought all the
oil in the region for 100 years for what we've spent in
Iraq!" Nazarbayev, looking a bit amused, said, "I know. I'm
just telling you what he said." Without specifying his
interlocutor, Nazarbayev said he'd asked if Tehran is willing
to talk to the United States, "and they said yes. I conveyed
this to President-elect Obama during our (post-U.S. election)
phone call." General Petraeus commented the United States
had had three rounds of talks with Iran about Iraq but had
gotten nowhere. Nazarbayev said, "I have no illusion U.S.
negotiations with Iran would be easy or fast, but we cannot
let Iran have nuclear weapons. I want to be helpful with
Iran."
6. (S) Nazarbayev added he has discussed Iran's nuclear
ambitions with Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister
Putin: "I emphasize to them a nuclear Iran is in no one's
interests." General Petraeus responded that it's important
to get Russia to be helpful with Iran: "They seem
conflicted. Sometimes they help; sometimes they send
weapons." Nazarbayev said, "I told Obama that he has a good
chance to have good relations with Mevedev. That's important
for us, too, since Russia and Kazakhstan are neighbors."
RUSSIA
7. (S) General Petraeus told President Nazarbayev
Kazakhstan's special relationship with Russia is not a
problem for the United States. "It's not a zero-sum game for
us. You can have good relations with Russia and China as
well as with us." Nazarbayev said he fully agreed, adding,
"I tell Russia and China we have our own resources. We are
Kazakhs. We were colonized for over 500 years, first by the
Golden Horde, then by the western Chinese, then by Russia.
We've been independent for only 17 years, and we do not want
to be colonized again. We will never be 'under' Russia or
China. We have enough resources and a reasonably educated
population to make our own choices. We want stability,
development, and cooperation. We all have to have Russia
'inside the tent.' I'd like the United States and the
European Union to help with this."
8. (S) Nazarbayev said the West had made real mistakes after
the collapse of the Soviet Union by not treating Yeltsin with
respect. He said Yeltsin had once gone to the NATO-Russia
Council where he had been "teased." Nazarbayev explained
Russia has great, but now injured, pride. It was once a
great empire, and Russian soldiers had played a large role in
winning the Great Patriotic War (WW II),but the West seems
to refuse to understand this. For Russia, maintained
Nazarbayev, "face" is everything. Nazarbayev said he had
frequently told President Medvedev that being an energy
superpower is not enough; it's essential to develop
international leadership with a spirit of cooperation.
Nazarbayev said Medvedev was "almost there," but then the
"Georgia mistake happened." Nazarbayev concluded, "If the
new U.S. administration has a wise response to Russia, I'd be
glad to help" with the relationship.
9. (S) NOTE: While waiting for Nazarbayev to enter the
meeting room, General Petraeus ask Foreign Policy Adviser
Sarybay why Kazakhstan had moved its capital from Almaty to
ASTANA 00000094 003 OF 003
Astana. Sarybay answered, "There are probably 20 different
reasons people give. In fact, in the first few years of
independence, several maps appeared that made our northern
border unclear, and so the President 'planted the flag.'"
This is the first time we are aware that a senior official
has confirmed Nazarbayev moved his capital to prevent Russian
nationalists from annexing the northern third of Kazakhstan,
which hotheads, including some in the Duma at that time,
claimed was historically part of Russia. END NOTE.
10. (S) COMMENT: Nazarbayev looked as fit as ever and was
very well-briefed, discussing details of the U.S.-Kazakhstan
military relationship without notes. He was not shy that he
sees himself as an international statesman. We know he was
genuinely pleased with President-elect Obama's telephone
call, and we judge his offers to be helpful for the United
States with Iran and Russia are genuine. END COMMENT.
11. (U) General Petraeus has cleared this cable.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P, SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS, NEA/IR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2029
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF IR RS KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CENTCOM CDR PETRAEUS MEETS PRESIDENT
NAZARVAYEV, JANUARY 14
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
***********************
ASTANA 00000094 002.2 OF 003
fully gave up that status. I tell them it would be to their
benefit to be non-nuclear. That would draw new assistance
and investment." General Petraeus said he again fully agreed
with the president, but noted Iran's policy is determined by
the Revolutional Guard al-Quds Force commander, not by
President Ahmedinejad or the Foreign Ministry. Nazarbayev
noted he had once talked to Ahmedinejad for two and a half
hours about such issues, "but in the end I realized I had
just wasted my time." He said Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Khameni told him that even if Iran compromises on the nuclear
issue, the United States would always find another reason to
criticize "because they hate us -- all the United States
wants is to conquer the entire region and steal the oil."
General Petraeus interjected, "We could have bought all the
oil in the region for 100 years for what we've spent in
Iraq!" Nazarbayev, looking a bit amused, said, "I know. I'm
just telling you what he said." Without specifying his
interlocutor, Nazarbayev said he'd asked if Tehran is willing
to talk to the United States, "and they said yes. I conveyed
this to President-elect Obama during our (post-U.S. election)
phone call." General Petraeus commented the United States
had had three rounds of talks with Iran about Iraq but had
gotten nowhere. Nazarbayev said, "I have no illusion U.S.
negotiations with Iran would be easy or fast, but we cannot
let Iran have nuclear weapons. I want to be helpful with
Iran."
6. (S) Nazarbayev added he has discussed Iran's nuclear
ambitions with Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister
Putin: "I emphasize to them a nuclear Iran is in no one's
interests." General Petraeus responded that it's important
to get Russia to be helpful with Iran: "They seem
conflicted. Sometimes they help; sometimes they send
weapons." Nazarbayev said, "I told Obama that he has a good
chance to have good relations with Mevedev. That's important
for us, too, since Russia and Kazakhstan are neighbors."
RUSSIA
7. (S) General Petraeus told President Nazarbayev
Kazakhstan's special relationship with Russia is not a
problem for the United States. "It's not a zero-sum game for
us. You can have good relations with Russia and China as
well as with us." Nazarbayev said he fully agreed, adding,
"I tell Russia and China we have our own resources. We are
Kazakhs. We were colonized for over 500 years, first by the
Golden Horde, then by the western Chinese, then by Russia.
We've been independent for only 17 years, and we do not want
to be colonized again. We will never be 'under' Russia or
China. We have enough resources and a reasonably educated
population to make our own choices. We want stability,
development, and cooperation. We all have to have Russia
'inside the tent.' I'd like the United States and the
European Union to help with this."
8. (S) Nazarbayev said the West had made real mistakes after
the collapse of the Soviet Union by not treating Yeltsin with
respect. He said Yeltsin had once gone to the NATO-Russia
Council where he had been "teased." Nazarbayev explained
Russia has great, but now injured, pride. It was once a
great empire, and Russian soldiers had played a large role in
winning the Great Patriotic War (WW II),but the West seems
to refuse to understand this. For Russia, maintained
Nazarbayev, "face" is everything. Nazarbayev said he had
frequently told President Medvedev that being an energy
superpower is not enough; it's essential to develop
international leadership with a spirit of cooperation.
Nazarbayev said Medvedev was "almost there," but then the
"Georgia mistake happened." Nazarbayev concluded, "If the
new U.S. administration has a wise response to Russia, I'd be
glad to help" with the relationship.
9. (S) NOTE: While waiting for Nazarbayev to enter the
meeting room, General Petraeus ask Foreign Policy Adviser
Sarybay why Kazakhstan had moved its capital from Almaty to
ASTANA 00000094 003 OF 003
Astana. Sarybay answered, "There are probably 20 different
reasons people give. In fact, in the first few years of
independence, several maps appeared that made our northern
border unclear, and so the President 'planted the flag.'"
This is the first time we are aware that a senior official
has confirmed Nazarbayev moved his capital to prevent Russian
nationalists from annexing the northern third of Kazakhstan,
which hotheads, including some in the Duma at that time,
claimed was historically part of Russia. END NOTE.
10. (S) COMMENT: Nazarbayev looked as fit as ever and was
very well-briefed, discussing details of the U.S.-Kazakhstan
military relationship without notes. He was not shy that he
sees himself as an international statesman. We know he was
genuinely pleased with President-elect Obama's telephone
call, and we judge his offers to be helpful for the United
States with Iran and Russia are genuine. END COMMENT.
11. (U) General Petraeus has cleared this cable.
HOAGLAND