VZCZCXRO7781
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW
RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV
RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #2583/01 3660904
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 310904Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4256
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0999
RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0398
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1104
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0473
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0570
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002583 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ISN/WMDT (SARAH PRESCOTT AND MEGGEN WATT), 
SCA/CEN, EUR/RUS AND EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN:  DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON THE FIFTH 
GLOBAL INITIATIVE MEETING TO BE HOSTED BY THE NETHERLANDS 
IN JUNE 2009 
 
REF: A. STATE 133442 
     ¶B. ASTANA 01867 
     ¶C. ASTANA 02566 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  In conjunction with the Ambassador from 
the Netherlands and a representative from the Embassy of the 
Russian Federation, PolOff delivered reftel A points on the 
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism's upcoming 
meeting, to be held in the Netherlands on June 16-17, 2009, 
on December 30 to Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Multilateral 
Cooperation.  Savelyev said Kazakhstan would "almost 
certainly" send a high-level delegation and promised to 
inform the governments of the United States, Russia and the 
Netherlands promptly once the MFA made a decision on 
representation.  Savelyev also deliberately reiterated 
Kazakhstan's commitments to host two Global Initiative 
exercises in 2009, although he did not provide any concrete 
information.  Despite the shuffling of several senior MFA 
positions, the MFA has not notified post of any significant 
staffing changes in the offices under the direction of Deputy 
Foreign Minister Danenov that would affect Kazakhstan's 
choice of representation at the upcoming June Global 
Initiative meeting in the Netherlands.  Savelyev's 
enthusiastic support in the December 30 meeting for Global 
Initiative activities reflects the government of Kazakhstan's 
interest in being recognized for its involvement in 
international organizations, particularly when events involve 
high-level officials.  On the working-level, however, 
Kazakhstan,s commitments may be stretching its resourcesAQW, 
particularly in terms of personnel.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In conjunction with the Ambassador from the 
Netherlands and a representative from the Embassy of the 
Russian Federation, PolOff delivered reftel A points on the 
Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism's upcoming 
meeting, to be held in the Netherlands on June 16-17, 2009, 
on December 30 to Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Multilateral 
Cooperation. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Savelyev stated that the government of Kazakhstan 
considers the Global Initiative to be a very important 
element in its counter-proliferation strategy.  He noted that 
Kazakhstan was one of the first nations to join the Global 
Initiative, and that it has recently hosted three events, 
including the third high-level plenary in June 2007 and two 
exercises in 2008.  Savelyev also emphasized that Kazakhstan 
is a member of many major international counter-proliferation 
organizations in addition to the Global Initiative, such as 
the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Proliferation Security 
Initiative, and that Kazakhstan is a signatory to the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Savelyev noted that Deputy Foreign Minister Danenov 
participated in the 2008 Madrid meeting of the Global 
Initiative.  He stated that although it was too early to say 
for certain, he hoped that Danenov would lead a delegation to 
attend the June 16-17 event in the Netherlands.  Savelyev 
also remarked that regardless of who led the delegation, 
Kazakhstan would "almost certainly" send a high-level 
delegation.  Savelyev said he would report any specific 
information on Kazakhstan,s intended representation for the 
Global Initiative,s June meeting as soon as higher-level MFA 
officials made a decision. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Whether due to the approaching New Year holidays or 
pleasure at having an invitation to the Netherlands to convey 
to Deputy Foreign Minister Danenov, Savelyev appeared to be 
in unusually good spirits during the demarche.  (COMMENT: 
 
ASTANA 00002583  002 OF 003 
 
 
Savelyev, whose educational background is in chemistry, has 
commented on previous occasions that he has over 15 years 
experience in non-proliferation.  Perhaps because of his 
extensive experience, as Deputy Chief of the Multilateral 
Cooperation Department, Savelyev oversees a broad portfolio. 
Savelyev is the first point of contact for most of post's 
non-proliferation demarches, including demarches related to 
the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Proliferation Security 
Initiative, the Global Initiative to Counter Nuclear 
Terrorism, the Prevention of Nuclear Smuggling Program and 
demarches related to Iran, Syria and North Korea.  Savelyev 
is also involved in matters relating to Kazakhstan's 
cooperation with the United States in Afghanistan.  Savelyev 
often comments that his department is extremely busy, and 
Savelyev's former assistant frequently complained to PolOff 
that the Multilateral Cooperation Department was 
"overwhelmed" by assignments.  During the December 30 
meeting, however, a relatively relaxed Savelyev deliberately 
raised the topic of Kazakhstan's commitments to host two 
Global Initiative exercises in 2009.) 
 
¶7.  (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED:  Savelyev's comments on 
Kazakhstan's plans to host two Global Initiative exercises in 
2009, though welcome, were a bit surprising, because in 
September and October, Savelyev had repeatedly avoided 
providing specific information about Kazakhstan,s plans for 
Global Initiative events in 2009.  In the December 30 
meeting, Savelyev still expressed uncertainty about the 
details, declaring that the events "might be held in Astana, 
or perhaps in Ust-Kamenogorsk" and "might be hosted by the 
Kazakhstani Atomic Energy Committee (KAEC), or possibly by 
the National Security Committee (KNB)."  PolOff was further 
surprised to hear either of these two entities mentioned as 
possible event planners.  PolOff has worked closely with 
representatives of KAEC to plan a Department of State-led 
Prevention of Nuclear Smuggling Exercise to be held in 
February 2009, and KAEC has not mentioned potentially hosting 
a Global Initiative exercise.  In fact, KAEC has repeatedly 
underscored its busy schedule for the next year and its 
commitments to prepare for International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA) activities in March.  The KNB did not play a 
noticeable role in the September Global Initiative Exercise 
in Ust-Kamenogorsk and did not participate in December 
planning meetings for the proposed February 2009 Prevention 
of Nuclear Smuggling Exercise.  Nevertheless, Savelyev,s 
statement in the December 30 meeting reflects the government 
of Kazakhstan's interest in being recognized for its 
involvement in international organizations, particularly when 
events involve high-level officials.  On the working-level 
and in practical terms, however, Kazakhstan,s commitments 
sometimes tend to stretch its resources, particularly in 
terms of personnel, as was illustrated when Kazakhstan hosted 
a Global Initiative exercise in Ust Kamenogorsk in September 
(reftel B). 
 
¶8.  (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED:  The MFA has not notified post 
of any significant staffing changes in the offices under the 
direction of Deputy Foreign Minister Danenov following Deputy 
Foreign Minister Sarybay's reassignment to be presidential 
foreign-policy adviser, therefore, post has no information 
that would suggest anyone other than Danenov would attend the 
June Global Initiative meeting.  Within the Kazakhstani MFA, 
most departments fall within parallel reporting channels 
being directed to two Deputy Foreign Ministers.  Deputy 
Foreign Minister Danenov supervises the Multilateral 
Cooperation Department, whereas the Americas Department 
reports to Deputy Foreign Minister Sarybay.  Deputy Foreign 
Minister Sarybay was assigned on December 26 to the 
prestigious position of Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to 
President Nazarbayev.  Although technically reporting through 
different channels, Savelyev works closely with the Chief of 
the Americans Department, Talgat Kaliyev, who is close to 
 
ASTANA 00002583  003 OF 003 
 
 
Sarybay.  Savelyev sometimes almost defers to Kaliyev, 
particularly on issues related to the Cooperative Threat 
Reduction Agreement. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED:  Although the December 
reshuffling at the MFA may not have any direct and immediate 
impact on Kazakhstan's participation in the Global 
Initiative, PolOff has observed that the Multilateral 
Cooperation Department and its mid-level MFA staff are being 
tasked simultaneously with supporting multiple initiatives. 
Over the last four months, Savelyev has asked Post to 
coordinate with four young, talented assistants, each of whom 
seems bright, capable and has had various "international" 
experience, but none of whom seems to have extensive 
background in non-proliferation.  Kazakhstan's desire to play 
a leading role in international organizations may be taxing 
not only a thin bench of experienced diplomats, but also many 
mid-level diplomats, like Savelyev and his assistants (reftel 
C).  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND