KAZAKHSTAN: NUR OTAN DEPUTY CHAIR LAYS OUT HIS PRIORITIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000056

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RPM, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR KDEM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: NUR OTAN DEPUTY CHAIR LAYS OUT HIS PRIORITIES

REF: A. 09 ASTANA 1516

B. 09 ASTANA 2148

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1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The recently-appointed Deputy Chairman of
President Nazarbayev's ruling Nur Otan party (Nazarbayev is the
Chairman) told the Ambassador on January 19 that Kazakhstan's OSCE
Chairmanship is a sign of its growing international standing. He
raised Kazakhstan's desire for a meeting between Presidents Obama
and Nazarbayev during the April Global Nuclear Security Summit. He
detailed Nur Otan's plan to send a delegation to Washington in March
to learn about organization and strategy from U.S. political
parties. Nur Otan has recently shifted focus onto the regions to
ensure that "the people see the government doing something."
Nigmatulin categorically denied that this increased activity
suggests the party is getting ready for early elections. The
Ambassador stressed the need to fulfill some of the goals laid out
in the "Human Rights Action Plan for 2009-2012" (ref A). END
SUMMARY.

"HISTORIC YEAR"


3. (SBU) On January 19, the Ambassador met with the Deputy Chairman
of the President's ruling Nur Otan party Nurlan Nigmatullin, who was
appointed to his position on November 19, 2009. Nigmatulin called
2010 a "historic year" for Kazakhstan. The Chairmanship of the OSCE
signifies the growing international standing of Kazakhstan and
President Nazarbayev, he said. The Ambassador underlined U.S.
support for Kazakhstan's priorities in all three OSCE dimensions and
readiness to work with Kazakhstan to make its Chairmanship a
success.

PUSH FOR NAZARBAYEV-OBAMA MEETING


4. (SBU) Nigmatulin noted that a meeting between Presidents Obama
and Nazarbayev during the April Global Nuclear Security Summit
(GNSS) would "be a strong sign" of the cooperation between
Kazakhstan and the United States and, he emphasized, would "serve as
a base" for the future. He highlighted that UN General Assembly's
recent adoption of Kazakhstan's proposal to make August 29, the day
Kazakhstan officially renounced its nuclear arsenal, the
International Day against Nuclear Tests. The Ambassador expressed
his certainty that President Nazarbayev will make an important
contribution to the GNSS, especially because of Kazakhstan's strong
non-proliferation record. The Ambassador said that the White House
continues to develop the President's schedule and noted that over 40
heads of state are expected to attend the GNSS.

NUR OTAN TO VISIT WASHINGTON


5. (SBU) Nigmatulin told us that a Nur Otan delegation will travel
to the United States in March on a working visit. The visit aims to
establish links with U.S. political parties and learn more about
election campaigns and platform development. Kazakhstan's embassy
in Washington will also organize a round-table on Kazakhstan's OSCE
Chairmanship. Nigmatulin praised Nur Otan's cooperation with the
National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican
Institute (IRI). The Ambassador affirmed the U.S. government's
readiness to work with the Kazakhstani Embassy in Washington to make
the delegation's trip successful and productive. He welcomed
Nigamtulin's views on ways to increase the effectiveness of NDI and
IRI's programs.

GOING TO THE PEOPLE


6. (SBU) The Ambassador asked Nigmatulin about his priorities for
Nur Otan, specifically the party's anti-corruption campaign. (NOTE:
Soon after taking office, Nigmatulin announced that the fight
against corruption is his top priority. END NOTE.) Nigmatulin said
the anti-corruption effort "will not lessen, and will, in fact,
strengthen." He noted that having established its credentials
nationally, Nur Otan has shifted focus to the regions. "The people
must see and feel that the government is doing something," he

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stated. Fully agreeing, the Ambassador noted that cooperation
between local civil-society NGOs and local governments to resolve
local problems exemplifies democracy at work.

NO EARLY ELECTIONS


7. (SBU) The Ambassador asked Nigmatulin about the persistent
rumors that the government will call early elections in 2010.
Nigmatulin categorically denied a link between Nur Otan's increased
activity in the regions and preparations for early elections. After
asking his assistant to turn off two tape recorders left on the
table by journalists present at the meeting's start, Nigmatulin told
the Ambassador, with a more relaxed and confidential air, that he
"knows all the oppositionists personally" and is familiar with the
"election rumors that frequently appear" in the opposition press.
"Let me reassure you that our increased activity is simply a
political party at work," he stressed to the Ambassador.

"UNDER A SPOTLIGHT"


8. (SBU) The Ambassador asked about the implementation of the
"Human Rights Action Plan for 2009-2012" (ref A) and stressed the
need to address at least some of the plan's priorities during
Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship. Nigmatulin responded, "Literally, I
am flying to Almaty this afternoon to meet with academics and other
specialists in Almaty to present Nur Otan's strategy, which will
correspond in part to the Human Rights Action Plan's goals. The
Ambassador noted that the OSCE Chairmanship has placed Kazakhstan
"under a spotlight. Both positive and negative reports are
inevitable," he stressed, "and Kazakhstan needs to take bold and
concrete steps that increase the positive." Fully agreeing,
Nigmatulin concluded, "Image is crucial, and we must fully realize
we are under a hot spotlight."

BIO NOTE


9. (SBU) Born on August 31, 1962, in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, Nurlan
Nigmatulin holds a degree from the Karaganda Polytechnic University.
He worked only one year as an engineer before being selected to
lead the Karaganda Komsomol (Soviet Young Communist Organization).
After independence, Nigmatulin rose quickly in Kazakhstan's
political circles, serving as the Deputy Head of Operations for the
Presidential Administration in 1995-1999, then as Deputy Akim
(Mayor) of Astana in 1999-2002, followed by two years as Vice
Minister of Transport and Communication, and returned to the
Presidential Administration as Head of Human Resources in 2004-2006.
From 2006 until his most recent appointment, Nigmatulin was the
governor of the Karaganda oblast. He proudly told the Ambassador,
breaking into ffairly fluent English, that Karaganda is "where
Nazarbayev got his start" at the Temirtau Metallurgical Plant.
Nigmatulin is married with three sons. His twin brother Yerlan is a
member of parliament.


10. (SBU) COMMENT: Nur Otan officials unequivocally deny the
possibility of early elections -- along with Nigmatulin, the party's
Secretary Yerlan Karin told the DCM in December that there are no
plans for elections before 2012 (ref B). However, even Karin
admitted that "all depends on the Ak Orda" (Presidential
Admnistration),and the President might choose to call elections at
any moment. Nur Otan's consultation with civil society on ways to
implement elements of the "Human Rights Action Plan" is noteworthy,
but whether this will translate into concrete orders from the
Presidency and action from the parliament, which Nur Otan fully
controls, remains to be seen. We should certainly highlight this
point when the party's delegation visits Washington in March. The
more we can press on cracked-open doors, the more chance we will
have for success. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND