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C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 105791 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2018 
TAGS: OVIP RICE CONDOLEEZZA PREL PGOV PHUM UNSCKZ
SUBJECT: (SBU) Secretary Rice's September 29, 2008 
meeting with Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin 
 
¶1.  (U)  Classified by:  Uzra Zeya, Deputy Executive 
Secretary, S/ES, Department of State. Reason 1.4.(d) 
 
¶2.  (U) September 29, 2008; 9:00 a.m.; New York. 
 
¶3.  (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Secretary 
SCA Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol 
DRL Assistant Secretary David Kramer 
SCA Notetaker Martin O?Mara 
 
Kazakhstan 
Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin 
Ambassador to the United States Erlan Idrissov 
Permanent Representative to UN Byrganym Aitimova 
Chairman MFA Committee on International Information 
Erzhan Ashikbayev 
Deputy Chief of Protocol Bolat Assabayev 
 
¶4.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  Secretary Rice met with Kazakhstani 
Foreign Minister Tazhin for 30 minutes on September 29 
to discuss bilateral relations, including the Secretary's 
upcoming visit to Astana, Kazakhstan's support for 
Afghanistan, and its democratic reform agenda as 
Kazakhstan prepares for the OSCE Chairmanship.  They 
also discussed the Russia-Georgia conflict.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------- 
The Secretary's Visit to Astana 
------------------------------- 
¶5.  (SBU) Foreign Minister Tazhin began by welcoming the 
Secretary's upcoming visit to Astana.  He confirmed that 
President Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Masimov will be 
available to meet with the Secretary. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Increasing Support for Afghanistan 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Tazhin described Kazakhstan's growing 
assistance program for Afghanistan.  In 2008, Kazakhstan 
was providing budgetary funds to support education, 
medical, and road construction projects.  Astana planned 
to build on the current program by funding additional 
projects in 2009-2011.  In addition to its special 
assistance program, Kazakhstan intended to send staff 
and medical officers to the International Security 
Assistance Force headquarters as a first step toward 
enhanced cooperation with NATO on Afghanistan. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Tazhin said that PM Masimov will visit 
Afghanistan in late October to assess potential 
investment projects.  Kazakhstani investors made an 
ambitious bid last year to develop a copper mine 
project, but had lost the tender to a Chinese 
competitor.  This was an important learning experience. 
Kazakhstan's government and private sector were 
committed to identifying investment projects in 
Afghanistan. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Secretary urged Tazhin to stay engaged 
with Afghanistan.  She noted Afghanistan has very 
limited natural resources.  The Kabul government's 
budget of $2.5 billion pales in comparison with 
Baghdad's budget of $49 billion.  Afghanistan can only 
succeed if it develops as a land bridge linking South 
and Central Asia.  For that reason, Kazakhstan, with its 
economic strength and own strategic vision for the 
region, can play a pivotal role in assisting Afghanistan 
and advancing regional integration. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Kazakhstan's Road to Europe (and OSCE Chairmanship) 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Tazhin said Kazakhstan is pursuing a strategic 
national program called the "Road to Europe" in 2009- 
¶2011.  The program set three major goals.  First, 
Kazakhstan seeks to step up cooperation with European 
countries in energy, joint transportation networks, and 
in conforming its regulations and standards with EU 
norms.  Secondly, Kazakhstan will liberalize its 
political system by improving media and electoral laws 
and introducing reforms in state administrations. 
Thirdly, Kazakhstan will use the program to identify its 
priorities as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation as in Europe. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The Secretary responded she was encouraged by 
Kazakhstan's push to reform its media and electoral 
laws.  She emphasized the importance of the future 
Chairman's strong support for the Office for Democratic 
Institutions and Human Rights.  Kazakhstan can be a very 
stable force in the region.  As Central Asia's most 
highly developed and resource-rich country, Kazakhstan 
has the potential to influence positively its neighbors. 
Kazakhstan can demonstrate leadership in the region by 
pushing its domestic reform agenda forward.  The United 
States is committed to working with Kazakhstan to 
advance the reform agenda. 
 
--------------------- 
Georgia-Russia Crisis 
--------------------- 
 
¶11.  (C) Tazhin noted that Georgia's conflict with 
Russia has significant implications for Kazakhstan. 
Kazakhstan is the largest investor in Georgia, owning 
assets such as the Batumi oil terminal, the gas 
infrastructure in Tbilisi, and hotels and resorts. 
Kazakhstan's private sector is expressing its concerns 
to Astana about its investments in Georgia. 
 
¶12.  (C) Tazhin said that Kazakhstan intends to continue 
its very open dialogue with Russia.  Kazakhstan had 
expressed to Russia its understanding of the 
"humanitarian" basis for Russia's actions in Georgia. 
Nevertheless, Kazakhstan firmly supports the principle 
of territorial integrity and negotiations to reach a 
settlement over the conflict zones. 
 
¶13.  (C) Tazhin said that Foreign Minister Lavrov had 
told him in their recent meeting that Russia is not 
against the principle of territorial integrity and has 
no claims on other neighbors, but it views South Ossetia 
and Abkhazia as unique cases.  Tazhin does not believe 
that Russia intends to challenge the territorial 
integrity of other potential zones of conflict such as 
Ukraine.  He emphasized that Kazakhstan will continue to 
engage the United States as a strategic partner as 
Kazakhstan deals with the long-term implications of the 
recent conflict. 
 
14.(C) The Secretary noted that the Shanghai Cooperation 
Organization, in particular China and Kazakhstan, sent a 
powerful signal to Russia that its actions in Georgia 
are unacceptable.  South Ossetia and Abkhazia are not 
analogous to Kosovo.  The Secretary expressed concern 
that Russia has created a dangerous principle by issuing 
Russian passports to people living in places like 
Georgia's conflict zones.  Russia's disregard for 
territorial integrity in order to protect citizens 
living outside of Russia is reminiscent of Germany's 
pre-WWII policy towards Sudeten Germans.  The Secretary 
noted that Russia needed to recognize its Georgia 
adventure and that its recognition of South Ossetia and 
Abkhazia were big mistakes. 
 
--------------------- 
U.S.-Russia Relations 
--------------------- 
 
¶15.  (C) The Secretary said the U.S.-Russia partnership 
will continue but is damaged.  Recalling her meeting 
with FM Lavrov in New York, the Secretary said the 
United States and Russia agreed to continue to work 
together in key areas of cooperation, such the UN 
resolution on Iran, the Middle East Quartet, and arms 
control.  In their meeting, the Secretary cautioned 
Lavrov not to exacerbate the conflict with Georgia by 
establishing military bases and Russian businesses in 
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  The Secretary emphasized 
that the U.S. objective now is to maintain constructive 
bilateral relations with Russia as the United States 
moves through the presidential transition. 
 
----------------------- 
IAEA Board of Governors 
----------------------- 
 
¶16.  (C) The Secretary stated that Kazakhstan would be 
an excellent IAEA board member given its nuclear 
nonproliferation and disarmament credentials.  She 
encouraged Tazhin to clarify Kazakhstan's status in the 
Middle East/South Asia regional group and to apply for 
the Board of Governors seat next year.  The United 
States will support Kazakhstan as it pursues this 
approach.  We are supporting Afghanistan's candidacy 
this year because it offers the best chance of defeating 
Syria's bid for the seat.  Tazhin indicated that 
Kazakhstan would postpone its candidacy until the next 
cycle. 
 
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Certifying Kazakhstan's Human Rights Record 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶17.  (SBU) Tazhin said that Kazakhstan does not 
understand why the U.S. Congress requires the State 
Department to certify every six months that Kazakhstan 
has made significant improvements in the protection of 
human rights and civil liberties under Section 698(a) of 
the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related 
Programs Act.  The certification requirement casts 
Kazakhstan, but not Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and 
Turkmenistan, into the same category as Uzbekistan and 
Russia.  He added that the certification requirement 
applies to an insignificant amount ($19 million) of 
bilateral assistance funds.  Astana views this request 
as inappropriate for a strategic partner of the United 
States.  The Secretary said that she would look into the 
matter and address it during her upcoming visit to 
Astana. 
 
----------------------- 
Jackson-Vanik Amendment 
----------------------- 
 
¶18.  (SBU) Tazhin asked the Secretary for the 
Department's support in "graduating" Kazakhstan from the 
Jackson-Vanik Amendment.  Kazakhstan has an exemplary 
record of respecting the right to emigrate.  Senator 
Lugar announced his support for lifting Jackson-Vanik 
earlier this year.  Lifting Jackson-Vanik is important 
because Kazakhstan hopes to complete its negotiations 
with the United States of the World Trade Organization 
bilateral accession agreement. 
 
¶19.  (C) The Secretary noted that while the Jackson- 
Vanik legislation was introduced as a measure to promote 
Jewish emigration, the U.S Congress now uses Jackson- 
Vanik to express its views on World Trade Organization 
issues.  For that reason, Kazakhstan is now caught up in 
the politics surrounding U.S. trade policy.  In closing, 
the Secretary assured Tazhin that the United States is 
committed to concluding a strong bilateral WTO accession 
agreement and removal of Jackson-Vanik. 
 
 
RICE