This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ALMATY 000168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR E: U/S SHINER 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KZ ETRD PREL WTO ECONOMIC
SUBJECT: TIME TO MOVE KAZAKHSTAN OFF JACKSON-VANIK LIST 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Post believes the time is right to 
remove Kazakhstan from the Jackson-Vanik list, thus 
eliminating a legal obstacle to Kazakhstan's WTO 
accession. President Nazarbayev identified WTO accession 
as a top economic goal in his January 11 inauguration 
speech.  We believe that the GOK's keen interest in this 
issue provides us with an ideal opportunity to demonstrate 
good will toward an increasingly-important strategic 
partner.  In addition,  given the   Administration's 
public support for Ukraine and Russia's removal from the 
Jackson-Vanik list, our relative silence in Kazakhstan's 
case could be interpreted here as a sign that we 
undervalue our relationship with Kazakhstan. 
Post believes that the facts outlined in the most recent 
report to Congress concerning Kazakhstan's Emigration Laws 
support Kazakhstan's removal from the list.  End Summary. 
 
WTO Accession a Clear GOK Priority 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) President Nazarbayev highlighted WTO accession as 
a key economic goal in his January 11 inauguration speech, 
linking accession (as well as the more-problematic issue 
of OSCE chairmanship) to an over-arching goal of making 
Kazakhstan "a top fifty country." 
Nazarbayev's remarks are consistent with the GOK's 
demonstrated commitment to the WTO process; from our 
viewpoint the GOK has worked diligently to answer concerns 
raised during bilateral WTO negotiations. 
 
Jackson-Vanik - An Important Signal to Send 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Post believes that making Kazakhstan's WTO 
accession a USG priority, and finding ways to demonstrate 
our willingness to facilitate GOK accession to the WTO, 
make sense in the context of our overall strategic 
relationship.  While Post believes we should evaluate our 
overall bilateral trade negotiations with Kazakhstan in a 
broad, strategic light, and do whatever we can to 
prioritize Kazakhstan's WTO accession, a good starting 
point - and a clear signal of our overall intentions - 
would be legislative action to remove Kazakhstan from the 
Jackson-Vanik list. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Recent Administration statements of support for 
removing Russia and Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik list 
only increases the importance of taking similar action on 
behalf of Kazakhstan.  As Nazarbayev's inaugural address 
demonstrates, Kazakhstan has embarked on strengthening its 
claims to regional leadership and beyond.  We feel it is 
important, in this context, that Kazakhstan's WTO 
accession process not lag appreciably behind that of 
Ukraine or Russia, and that we are perceived as offering 
equivalent support for Kazakhstan's accession as for 
Ukraine's and Russia's. 
 
GOK Respects Right to Emigrate 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) Kazakhstan's constitution provides for the right 
to emigrate, and the GOK generally respects the right in 
practice.  The only legislative restriction applies to 
individuals with access to state secrets; it has been 
invoked only once, with the decision subsequently 
reversed.  There is no exit visa requirement for temporary 
travel abroad.  While a permanent exit visa is required 
for emigrants leaving the country, such visas are rarely 
denied.  Refusals have been limited to citizens subject to 
pending criminal or civil legal cases.  There is no 
evidence that refusals have been linked to political, 
religious or ethnic affiliation.  The Jewish population in 
Kazakhstan has been able to freely emigrate since 
independence. 
 
ASQUINO