VZCZCXRO6857
PP RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #8118 1272227
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 062222Z MAY 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0317
INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS STATE 048118 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE/PERMANENT COUNCIL:  STATEMENT ON RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM IN KAZAKHSTAN 
 
 
 ¶1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement 
at the May 8 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna. 
 
Begin Text: 
 
Mr. Chairman, 
 
The United States is concerned about recent reports that 
reflect a disturbing trend in Kazakhstan regarding religious 
freedom.  While Kazakhstan has prided itself on its religious 
freedom record and tradition of inter-faith tolerance, and 
has on many occasions used this forum to remind us of that, 
several factors lead us to raise concerns today about a 
possible decline in the protection of religious freedom in 
that country. 
 
Over recent months, there have been reports of raids on 
churches by the Committee of National Security, reputedly in 
connection with investigation of alleged treason.  A land 
dispute with a religious minority community drags on. 
Several state-controlled media outlets have recently 
published or broadcast stories critical of 
&non-traditional8 religious groups.  Furthermore, political 
leaders have made prominent statements critical of these 
groups. 
 
More recently, amendments to Kazakhstan,s religion law that 
were introduced on April 2nd would, among other things, 
require all religious groups to re-register under more 
restrictive procedures; limit the activities of smaller 
groups; establish a quota system to limit the number of 
missionaries and require local government consent for 
missionaries; and prohibit all financial and other 
contributions from foreigners and anonymous donors. 
 
Taken together, these developments paint a disturbing picture 
of governmental attitudes toward the preservation of 
religious freedom in Kazakhstan. 
 
OSCE commitments on freedom of religion, as specified in the 
Vienna Document from 1989, include the pledge that 
participating States will &grant believers, practicing or 
prepared to practice within the constitutional framework of 
the State, recognition,8 and that they will &respect the 
right of these religious communities to establish and 
maintain freely accessible places of worship or assembly, 
organize themselves according to their own hierarchical and 
institutional structure ... and solicit and receive voluntary 
financial and other contributions.8  In addition, at the 
Maastricht Ministerial in 2003, we all decided that 
participating States, laws, regulations, practices and 
policies dealing with religion should be transparent and 
non-discriminatory. These commitments reflect some of the 
most sophisticated standards on religious freedom at the 
international level, and all participating States should work 
diligently to protect these provisions and ensure full 
compliance. 
 
It has been nearly 5 months since the Kazakhstani Government 
assured its 55 counterparts in Madrid that Kazakhstan is 
strongly committed to the OSCE,s human dimension, saying 
that , &It is commonly recognized that one of the most 
important achievements of Kazakhstan in the humanitarian 
sphere is securing the inter-ethnic and inter-religious 
accord.  Additional emphasis on strengthening the dialogue 
between religions and people is the imperative demand of our 
time.8 
 
In the spirit of these commitments reiterated in Madrid, we 
urge the Government of Kazakhstan to request technical 
assistance from ODIHR on the text of the draft amendments, as 
it has done in the past.  We further recommend that the 
government consult with non-governmental organizations and 
religious groups, registered and unregistered alike, to 
ensure that laws regarding religious organizations in 
Kazakhstan and the actions of its officials meet OSCE 
commitments.  In doing so, Kazakhstan would reflect the kind 
of transparency and inter-faith tolerance the OSCE seeks to 
embody. 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
RICE