CHARGE FULLER MEETS KAZAKHSTAN DFM ZHIGALOV

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000187 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2019 TAGS: AF KZ OSCE PHUM PREL SUBJECT: CHARGE FULLER MEETS KAZAKHSTAN DFM ZHIGALOV Classified By: Charge d,Affaires, a.i., Carol S. Fuller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In an August 20 meeting with Charge d'Affaires Fuller, Kazakhstani Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Zhigalov reiterated his country's priorities in anticipation of its 2010 role as OSCE Chair-in-Office (CIO),including focusing on frozen conflicts, the Corfu process, energy, transportation, tolerance, and Afghanistan. Zhigalov said Kazakhstan was considering hosting a Corfu-like meeting on European Security in mid-2010; he added that the level had not been determined. He noted that Kazakhstan will likely appoint Special Representatives for Transportation, Ecology, and the Balkans and will place new emphasis on the OSCE's Asian partners. Zhigalov said Kazakhstan was in a unique position to understand Georgia because both countries used to belong to one state and because Kazakhstan remained one of Georgia's largest investors. He said Kazakhstan intended to consult with Georgia and Russia on a possible way forward. Zhigalov was in town to consult with the Secretariat and key missions, including the USG, Russia, and Germany. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Zhigalov told Charge that he is in town for meetings with the OSCE Secretariat and several other delegations, including the Russians and the Germans. He also said that he plans to meet with the Georgian and Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers in the near future. Zhigalov explained the structure of Kazakhstan's approach to being CIO: the OSCE Task Force, with headquarters in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will oversee the work of the recently established State Commission. The Commission is designed, in part, to integrate other ministries, serving to make the Chairmanship a shared responsibility throughout the government. EUROPEAN SECURITY -------------- ¶3. (C) Zhigalov said the OSCE's First Dimension (hard security) "is not an easy one," but required "a fresh breath." Recognizing the efforts of the Greek CIO to address European Security through the Corfu Process, Zhigalov said he hoped the this Fall's "second stage" meetings would bear fruit, enabling the third stage to be ready to move forward as Kazakhstan begins its Chairmanship. Commenting with approval on the 'informal modalities' of the Corfu Process, Zhigalov said the Kazakhstanis may wish to hold a similar meeting in Kazakhstan next year - particularly given the upcoming thirty-fifth anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. He added that President Sarkozy will be in Kazakhstan in October and the Kazakhstanis intend to raise the issue of European Security with him at that time. In response, we underscored that the USG sees European Security as comprehensive, including all three dimensions, and not limited to the First Dimension. We added that any third stage would have to be content driven and subsequent meetings would depend on what would be achieved in the current round of discussions. SPECIAL REPS FOR TRANSPORTATION, ECOLOGY, AND THE BALKANS -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Charge commented that it was as important to be a good chair as being the first Asian country to hold the CIO position and offered American support and assistance in any area Kazakhstan wanted. Zhigalov (half jokingly) responded that it would be easier to identify the areas where the Kazakhstanis do not need help. He said Kazakhstan would have a 'special focus" on the Second Dimension - particularly in the areas of energy and transportation. Identifying Kazakhstan as the largest land-locked country on earth, he said the new CIO would likely appoint a Special Representative on transportation issues during its chairmanship. He said Kazakhstan was considering and would likely appoint a Lithuanian to act in this capacity. Zhigalov also said the new CIO would likely also appoint a Special Representative on Ecological issues as well as on Balkan matters. AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶4. (C) Zhigalov said Afghanistan would be the Kazakhstani Chair's main First Dimension priority. He outlined Kazakhstan's planned USD 50 million educational program for Afghanistan that will extend beyond Kazakhstan's time as CIO USOSCE 00000187 002 OF 002 and said the Foreign Minister would travel to Afghanistan soon to discuss the project with his counterpart there. "Afghanistan is a huge problem for the whole region," he said, adding that Kazakhstan is "ready to cooperate with the U.S. on this matter." He said Kazakhstan's concern about the problems in Afghanistan predates September 11, 2001, and his government is pleased with the attention being given to these problems. RUSSIAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶5. (C) Charge reminded Zhigalov that the USG hoped to see leadership from Kazakhstan during their Chairmanship, particularly in the realm of U.S.-Russian relations, rather than a knee-jerk effort to 'split the difference' between Russia and the overwhelming majority on some issues, such as Georgia. Zhigalov commented that Kazakhstan understood the need to respect all nations of the OSCE and not simply the biggest players, recognizing virtual consensus is often blocked by the Russians and one or two Russian allies. He noted with approval Russian efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh. On Georgia, Zhigalov said "I'd like you to be in our shoes." He said Kazakhstan was in a unique position to understand the issue because both countries used to belong to one state and because Kazakhstan remained one of Georgia's largest investors. HUMAN DIMENSION ISSUES -------------- ¶6. (C) On the Human Dimension, Charge commented that every step forward would be seen favorably by the world community - particularly in areas where Kazakhstan had been recently criticized: its internet law and the sentencing of journalist Ramazan Yesergepov. Zhigalov did not respond. He did however, say that Kazakhstan intended to place interethnic and interreligious dialogue at the top of its third dimension priorities - although not at the price of sacrificing basic human rights issues. A NEW EMPHASIS ON ASIAN PARTNERS -------------- ¶8. (C) Zhigalov pointed out that Kazakhstan is the first Asian country to assume the OSCE chair. For this reason, he said Kazakhstan would place greater emphasis on their Asian partners - as Greece had done with its Mediterranean partners during its year as CIO. Charge pointed out that Kazakhstan's chairmanship provides an opportunity to set a leadership example for the Central Asian region, as well as focus attention on it. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. Zhigalov's remarks on a high-level meeting to mark the "third stage" of the Corfu Process indicate that Kazakhstan is still thinking about holding a ministerial - or even a summit in Astana on security architecture sometime during their chairmanship. On the margins of the meeting we asked Zhigalov if they had a summit in mind; he responded that the whole concept was still under consideration. FULLER