KAZAKHSTAN: APPRECIATION MIXED WITH CONCERN

S E C R E T ASTANA 000082 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP, EUR/RUS, PM, DRL E.O. 12958: 01/20/2030 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR EAID MARR AF RS KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: APPRECIATION MIXED WITH CONCERN REF: A. ASTANA 0020 ¶B. ASTANA 0002 Classified By: Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland: 1.4 (A),(B),(D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: During a January 25 meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov noted the Kazakhstani government's appreciation for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake's recent remarks on Kazakhstan at the National Press Club in Washington and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke's civilian strategy for Afghanistan. Umarov also told the Ambassador that the Kazakhstani government hopes to have a draft overflight agreement prepared by February 1 (ref A). Umarov asserted the government is considering seriously whether or not to refuse all assistance under the human-rights certification (ref B). END SUMMARY. RECENT POLICY STATEMENTS WELL RECEIVED ¶2. (SBU) On January 25, Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov both personally and officially conveyed to the Ambassador appreciation for SCA A/S Robert Blake's January 20 remarks on Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the OSCE. Calling it "helpful to mitigate the AP article" and other bilateral irritants, he emphasized that the statement pleased the government. With obvious enthusiasm, Umarov also expressed "great interest" in the civilian strategy for Afghanistan recently announced by Special Representative Holbrooke. He underlined that this increased attention to humanitarian and civilian needs "coincides with Kazakhstan's view, especially our thinking on the summit. This is what we were thinking regarding an OSCE summit on Afghanistan. The military is the short-term response, while civilian is long-term." Umarov further stated his hope that Presidents Nazarbayev and Obama can discuss these issues during a meeting on the sidelines of the April Global Nuclear Security Summit. DRAFT OVERFLIGHT AGREEMENT SOON ¶3. (S) Umarov asserted that he had hoped to present a text of a draft overflight agreement before the Ambassador's January 27 trip to Washington. However, he explained, "We are still addressing minor details, but we hope to have a copy before the Foreign Minister travels to Washington (i.e., February 1)." SERIOUSLY STUDYING HUMAN RIGHTS CERTIFICATION ASSISTANCE ¶4. (SBU) On Kazakhstan's threat to refuse assistance subject to the Congressional human-rights certification process, Umarov stated, "We are looking more deeply at this step. I do not like radical steps. Before we make an official decision, I will look into the details. We do not want to be humiliated to get financial assistance. We would rather reject it outright and be done with it." The Ambassador highlighted the negative consequences to Kazakhstan's image should it refuse the assistance. However, Umarov insisted that the process can be "used as a tool to put us in a bad situation." ¶5. (SBU) Umarov explained that the Kazakhstani Embassy to the United States is considering the pros and cons after which the government will have inter-agency meetings to discuss their options. Umarov emphasized, "We do not want certification to be used as leverage against us. We know how small things can become big, big issues, such as the AP article [which alleged negotiations between elements related to KazAtomProm and Iran for the sale of yellowcake uranium]. At some point, someone [in the Kazakhstani government] will raise it and ask why we did not eliminate the process." He asserted that the government will take a consolidated approach, using the advice of its Embassy and other agencies. Umarov further argued, "We must not just wait and see, but we must work and be proactive. I am not for radical steps, but when issues become troubling, we must do something." The Ambassador responded that such a step would be a disaster for the bilateral relationship, with unforeseen negative consequences. He urged that Kazakhstan retain some perspective on the situation. HOAGLAND