Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASTANA2
2010-01-05 06:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN EXPRESSES PIQUE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO0733 OO RUEHIK DE RUEHTA #0002 0050637 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 050637Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7144 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2314 RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1676 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2382 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1305 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2665 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2955 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1871 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1721 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ASTANA 000002
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID UZ KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN EXPRESSES PIQUE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS
CERTIFICATION
REFTEL: 09 ASTANA 2273
UNCLAS ASTANA 000002
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID UZ KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN EXPRESSES PIQUE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS
CERTIFICATION
REFTEL: 09 ASTANA 2273
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a December 31 meeting (reftel),
Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov raised concerns
about the human-rights certification process. He told the
Ambassador that Kazakhstan is ready to refuse all assistance under
the certification. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) On December 31, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister
Kairat Umarov described to the Ambassador the Kazakhstani
government's efforts to change Washington's human-rights
certification process. According to Umarov, the Kazakhstani Embassy
to the United States has worked "long and hard" on this issue and
raised it with Secretary Clinton. Umarov explained that these
efforts led to a "solution" whereby Kazakhstan would undergo the
process but not be named in the law.
4. (SBU) Umarov expressed his concern that "a strange thing
happened. We heard that this same situation was proposed to
Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan has now disappeared from the human-rights
certification." He asserted that U.S. military assistance to
Uzbekistan no longer depends upon the certification. (NOTE: This
reference probably relates to "expanded international military
education and training," which Uzbekistan receives. END NOTE.)
While he stressed his "happiness" for Uzbekistan, Umarov highlighted
Kazakhstani government frustration that the United States "is
putting Kazakhstan on the same footing as Uzbekistan." (NOTE:
Umarov clearly rejected the notion that Kazakhstan's human-rights
record is analogous to Uzbekistan's. END NOTE.)
5. (SBU) Appearing frustrated, Umarov stated, "You appear to have
different approaches for different countries. We did not request
the assistance that is provided under the human rights
certification. We are ready to refuse it if the certification is
involved, because it is hurting the dignity of our country."
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Human Rights Certification, along with the
Jackson-Vanik Amendment, was one of the first things senior
Kazakhstani officials raised with the Ambassador when he first
arrived in Astana in September 2008. We know that Kazakhstan's
Ambassador Idrissov has raised this issue -- and the threat to
reject assistance -- with U.S. officials in Washington. We believe
the threat is real. We will need to walk them back from committing
one more self-inflicted wound -- but it won't be easy, in part
because Kazakhstan recently seems to see irritation piling upon
irritation. Even more important, we know that Kazakhstan is
watching with great suspicion and concern the incremental
improvement in U.S.-Uzbekistan relations. Kazakhstan has real
reason to be proud of its substantial achievements, but it has yet
to understand that it cannot win political points with threats and
bullying. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID UZ KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN EXPRESSES PIQUE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS
CERTIFICATION
REFTEL: 09 ASTANA 2273
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a December 31 meeting (reftel),
Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov raised concerns
about the human-rights certification process. He told the
Ambassador that Kazakhstan is ready to refuse all assistance under
the certification. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) On December 31, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister
Kairat Umarov described to the Ambassador the Kazakhstani
government's efforts to change Washington's human-rights
certification process. According to Umarov, the Kazakhstani Embassy
to the United States has worked "long and hard" on this issue and
raised it with Secretary Clinton. Umarov explained that these
efforts led to a "solution" whereby Kazakhstan would undergo the
process but not be named in the law.
4. (SBU) Umarov expressed his concern that "a strange thing
happened. We heard that this same situation was proposed to
Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan has now disappeared from the human-rights
certification." He asserted that U.S. military assistance to
Uzbekistan no longer depends upon the certification. (NOTE: This
reference probably relates to "expanded international military
education and training," which Uzbekistan receives. END NOTE.)
While he stressed his "happiness" for Uzbekistan, Umarov highlighted
Kazakhstani government frustration that the United States "is
putting Kazakhstan on the same footing as Uzbekistan." (NOTE:
Umarov clearly rejected the notion that Kazakhstan's human-rights
record is analogous to Uzbekistan's. END NOTE.)
5. (SBU) Appearing frustrated, Umarov stated, "You appear to have
different approaches for different countries. We did not request
the assistance that is provided under the human rights
certification. We are ready to refuse it if the certification is
involved, because it is hurting the dignity of our country."
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Human Rights Certification, along with the
Jackson-Vanik Amendment, was one of the first things senior
Kazakhstani officials raised with the Ambassador when he first
arrived in Astana in September 2008. We know that Kazakhstan's
Ambassador Idrissov has raised this issue -- and the threat to
reject assistance -- with U.S. officials in Washington. We believe
the threat is real. We will need to walk them back from committing
one more self-inflicted wound -- but it won't be easy, in part
because Kazakhstan recently seems to see irritation piling upon
irritation. Even more important, we know that Kazakhstan is
watching with great suspicion and concern the incremental
improvement in U.S.-Uzbekistan relations. Kazakhstan has real
reason to be proud of its substantial achievements, but it has yet
to understand that it cannot win political points with threats and
bullying. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND