REQUEST TO EXPAND THE AGENDA OF THE LEGISLATIVE

UNCLAS STATE 071819

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP KZ
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO EXPAND THE AGENDA OF THE LEGISLATIVE
DRAFTING EXPERT WORKSHOP IN ALMATY ON 15-18 SEPTEMBER 2009


1. This is an action request. See paragraphs 4-5.


2. The entire text of this cable is UNCLASSIFIED.


3. BACKGROUND ON WORKSHOP: The Terrorism Prevention Branch
(TPB) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
has proposed to hold a workshop with the Government of
Kazakhstan (GOKZ) in Almaty on September 15-18, 2009, aimed
at strengthening Kazakhstan,s national legislation on the
implementation of the international instruments and relevant
UN Security Council Resolutions against terrorism. During the
nuclear smuggling discussions between the Department,s
Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI) and the GOKZ on
June 10, 2009, the NSOI team proposed to hold a separate
workshop to help the GOKZ review its laws to determine if
they provide sufficient legal authority to prosecute all
types of cases of nuclear smuggling, and the Kazakhstani side
agreed to this proposal. NSOI and TPB/UNODC agree that the
September workshop would provide an excellent opportunity to
conduct the review of the GOKZ,s nuclear smuggling laws, as
well. TPB/UNODC suggested that NSOI contact Ms. Arman
Mukhametzhanova at the GOKZ,s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
propose expanding the agenda of the September workshop to
include a session for such a review and a discussion on the
criminalization of nuclear smuggling cases.


4. Request Embassy deliver the letter in paragraph 5 to Ms.
Mukhametzhanova and pass back any immediate response.


5. Begin text of letter:

Ms. Arman Mukhametzhanova
Specialist, Department of Multilateral Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Kazakhstan

Dear Ms. Mukhametzhanova,

We understand that the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) has proposed to hold a Legislative Drafting
Expert Workshop in Almaty on September 15-18 to help your
government review its laws related to the universal legal
framework against terrorism.

On June 10, 2009, delegations of our governments met to
discuss cooperative efforts to combat the illicit trafficking
of nuclear and radioactive materials. During that
discussion, the U.S. side proposed to hold a workshop to help
your government review its laws to determine if they provide
sufficient legal authority to prosecute all types of cases of
illicit nuclear trafficking, and the Kazakhstani side
accepted this proposal. Any questions you may have about the
June 10 discussions may be addressed to Ms. Colleen Altstock
at the U.S. Embassy in Astana.

We believe that the workshop with UNODC in September would
provide an excellent opportunity to conduct this review of
your laws related to the illicit trafficking of nuclear and
radioactive materials. If acceptable to your government, we
would like to expand the agenda of the UNODC workshop to
include a session for this review and a discussion on the
criminalization of these illicit trafficking cases.

The Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative and the United
States Department of Justice have worked with UNODC to hold
similar joint legislative drafting workshops in Ukraine and
Armenia, and both governments found these workshops to be
very useful.

We are prepared to coordinate with UNODC if your government
is willing to expand the scope of the September workshop as
described above. Please send your response to this request
to Ms. Altstock at the U.S. Embassy.

We appreciate your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Stafford
U.S. Negotiator for Nuclear Security and Dismantlement
Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative
U.S. Department of State

End text of letter.


6. State Points of Contact: Jennifer Mastros
Lynch(MastrosJL@state.gov),phone 202-736-7978; Michael
Baumann (BaumannMR@state.gov),phone 202-736-7984.


7. Department greatly appreciates Post,s assistance.
CLINTON