VZCZCXRO1470
PP RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #2404/01 1880653
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070653Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALMATY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6080
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2132
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1609

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ALMATY 002404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE), DRL/PHD (C. KUCHTA-HELBLING) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DEMOCRATIC 
DEVELOPMENT WITH PA DEPUTY HEAD ASHIMBAYEV 
 
REF: ALMATY 1418 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  In a July 3 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Deputy PA head Ashimbayev conceded that the process of 
consideration of amendments to the media law could have been 
more open, but argued that the current debate about the 
provisions proved that the process had been transparent.  He 
stressed that the amendments would address a serious problem 
with lack of transparency of ownership of media outlets, and 
would not be used to limit the freedom of the media.  On the 
question of training of political parties by U.S. NGOs, 
Ashimbayev said that training provided in a "balanced" way to 
both pro-government and opposition parties would be 
desirable.  He informed the Ambassador that Otan and Asar 
would merge the following day.  The Ambassador noted that in 
the context of the OSCE CiO bid, the U.S. did not see 
significant progress on political reform in Kazakhstan. 
Ashimbayev highlighted the work of the Democratization 
Commission and invited U.S. input.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Maulen Ashimbayev, deputy 
head of the Presidential Administration, on July 3 in Astana 
to discuss a variety of issues effecting Kazakhstan's 
democratic development. 
 
-------------------- 
Media Law Amendments 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Amendments to the media law passed by Parliament on 
June 29 were troubling, the Ambassador told Ashimbayev.  The 
U.S. was particularly concerned by the lack of transparency 
and opportunity for public comment during the consideration 
of the draft legislation.  The Ambassador noted that there 
was significant confusion regarding the contents of the final 
version; the fact that the public was unaware that several 
negative provisions had been dropped created an even more 
negative impression than was warranted. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ashimbayev conceded that the debate had not been 
public enough.  He stressed that the PA had instructed the 
Information Ministry to introduce the amendments in an open 
way, however, and that the lively debate in the Mazhilis and 
the criticism from journalists showed that there had been a 
degree of transparency.  He added that after the legislation 
was passed, the PA had ordered the Information Ministry to 
prepare additional explanatory materials regarding the need 
for the amendments.  Ashimbayev assured the Ambassador that 
the amendments would be used only to increase transparency in 
the media world, not to limit freedoms.  He underscored the 
present problem of lack of transparency in media ownership, 
adding that it's not enough for "everyone to know" who really 
owns a paper or a television station; it must be official. 
The Ambassador stressed that it was crucial that media 
outlets continue to be able to publish and broadcast freely. 
Ashimbayev said he did not foresee the possibility of media 
seizu 
res. 
 
------------------------ 
Political Party Training 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of training of 
political parties by U.S. NGOs, explaining that we had had an 
ongoing dialogue with the Procuracy for several years 
regarding what types of activities were permissible and what 
would be considered "financing" of a political party and 
therefore not permissible.  In a recent meeting, Procurator 
General Tusupbekov had taken a more hard-line position than 
before and had told the Ambassador that any type of exchange 
of information constituted financing and was therefore 
illegal.  Tusupbekov had recognized, however, that Kazakhstan 
welcomed and needed U.S. assistance in the area of political 
development.  He suggested that the U.S. raise the issue with 
the Presidential Administration.  Ashimbayev responded that 
as long as the training was given to both opposition and 
pro-government parties in a "balanced" manner, it was 
desirable.  They agreed to arrange a meeting with 
representatives of the PA, the Procuracy, the Embassy/USAID, 
and NDI and IRI to brief on the programs and agree on a way 
forward. 
 
------------ 
Party Merger 
------------ 
 
 
ALMATY 00002404  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ashimbayev, who was interrupted several times during 
the meeting by "hot line" calls from higher levels of the 
GOK, explained that last minute talks were underway regarding 
the merger of President Nazarbayev's Otan party and first 
daughter Dariga Nazarbayeva's Asar party.  Ashimbayev 
informed the Ambassador that the merger would be announced at 
the July 4 Otan party congress.  He did not expect the merger 
to result in a change in the leadership of Otan.  (Note:  The 
merger was announced on July 4.  Zhumagulov remains the 
acting chairman of Otan.  End note.) 
 
--------------------- 
OSCE Chairmanship Bid 
--------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador told Ashimbayev that he would discuss 
the U.S. position on Kazakhstan's bid for the chairmanship of 
the OSCE with FM Tokayev later that day.  The U.S. did not 
believe that democratic reform was moving forward in 
Kazakhstan.  In fact, there had been a series of negative 
developments such as the flawed elections, media law 
amendments, rejection of Alga's registration application, and 
restrictions on Galymzhan Zhakiyanov's freedom of movement 
and association.  The Ambassador asked Ashimbayev where the 
U.S. and Kazakhstan could best work together to support 
progress on democracy. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Ashimbayev said that he could not agree that there 
was no progress on democratic reform, contrasting the 
present-day situation with the 1990s.  He said that the 
Kazakhstani government's priorities at the moment were to 
ensure a successful Nazarbayev visit to Washington in 
September; to invest in Afghanistan's reconstruction and help 
combat extremism and terrorism; and to pursue political 
reform through the Democratization Commission.  He said that 
U.S. recommendations on political reform would be welcome. 
The Ambassador noted that in a previous conversation 
(reftel), they had discussed the idea of inviting the OSCE to 
play a role in the running of the Democratization Commission. 
 Ashimbayev did not respond directly, noting only that the 
Commission had adjourned its work until mid- to late-August 
and would likely finish by the end of the year.  He mentioned 
that working groups are examining issues such as reform of 
parliament, local self-government, and constitutional reform. 
ORDWAY