VZCZCXRO0450
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK
RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #0410/01 0640851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050851Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4825
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1303
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0686
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1389
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0137
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2190
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2518
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0864
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1287
RUEWMFB/DTRA CT WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000410 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARMENT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ISN, ECA 
DTRA CT FOR BYRD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL SOCI TBIO KNNP KPAO KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE EAGER TO 
ENHANCE COOPERATION 
 
ASTANA 00000410  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  During his March 4 introductory call on Minister 
of Education and Science Zhanseit Tuymebayev, the Ambassador raised 
U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperation in the field of education, including on 
the Bolashak program and registration/accreditation for U.S. schools 
operating in Kazakhstan.  Minister Tuymebayev briefed the Ambassador 
on Kazakhstan's educational achievements and plans for a world-class 
"New University" to be located in Astana.  Turning to science 
issues, the Ambassador raised concerns about the proposed location 
of the Central Reference Laboratory and problems caused by new 
regulations that prohibit foreigners from travelling to the Research 
Institute for Biosafety Problems in Otar without a government 
waiver.  Minister Tuymebayev thanked the Ambassador for U.S. support 
for Kazakhstan's biosafety facilities, promised to cooperate to 
resolve outstanding issues, and indicated his Ministry's willingness 
to move forward on a bilateral Science and Technology Agreement. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
BOLASHAK 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Minister Tuymebayev began his nearly 15-minute, 
enthusiastic opening monologue by noting that the United States and 
Kazakhstan have had good cooperation in the areas of education and 
science.  He said that about 800 Bolashak scholarship recipients 
study in the United States each year, and noted that the overall 
number of Kazakhstani students studying in the United States is 
increasing every year.  The Ambassador praised President 
Nazarbayev's commitment to education and noted that the government's 
focus on this issue is making a real difference in Kazakhstan and 
Kazakhstan's place in the world.  He said he recently hosted the new 
Bolashak leadership for lunch at his residence, and was ready to 
cooperate "100 percent and more" with these officials. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Tuymebayev emphasized that Kazakhstan wants to send its 
students to the highest-rated U.S. universities, and said Bolashak 
would be cutting the number of international partners with whom it 
works from approximately 630 to around 150 to 200.  He said his 
Ministry already has a relationship with some foreign schools and 
invites them to Kazakhstan annually.  He explained that last year 
his Ministry received 20 education representatives from the United 
Kingdom, 30 from Germany, and 15 from Canada, but only two or three 
from the United States.  He said he would like to have 20 to 30 
representatives visit from the United States each year, and 
underscored that he would bring them together with Kazakhstani 
rectors to encourage collaboration. (NOTE:  The Ministry of 
Education and Science periodically issues direct invitations to 
conferences and meetings.  The Embassy has neither been consulted 
about invitees nor asked to pass along invitations.  END NOTE.) 
 
UPDATE ON ASTANA'S "NEW UNIVERSITY" 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Minister briefed the Ambassador on Astana's "New 
University" -- which is President Nazarbayev's initiative to create 
a world-class university focused on science, technology, and 
engineering that will be at the "same level of U.S. universities in 
Dubai and Qatar."  He noted that a delegation had recently traveled 
to the United States to meet with top universities such as Harvard, 
MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, and said that a number, including 
universities in "New Jersey, Pittsburg, and Rochester" had indicated 
their willingness to cooperate.  (NOTE:  The Ministry reportedly 
signed technical exchange agreements with the New Jersey Institute 
of Technology, the University of Pittsburgh, and University of 
Rochester last year.  END NOTE.)  The Minister commented that he 
would like a U.S. university to oversee one of the four planned 
institutes of the New University in order to ensure its proper 
development.  He said that U.S. professors would be invited to teach 
various courses and that instruction would be in English.  The 
Minister noted that his staff had traveled to Singapore and the 
United Kingdom to consult with top universities in those countries 
 
ASTANA 00000410  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
as well. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) After complimenting an obviously pleased Tuymebayev on his 
past work as a "fellow diplomat" (NOTE: Tuymebayev formerly served 
as Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Moscow.  END NOTE), the Ambassador 
asked how construction of the New University is progressing during 
the financial crisis.  The Minister replied that he had discussed 
the issue earlier that morning with Prime Minister Masimov, who had 
confirmed that construction and financing would continue. 
Tuymebayev said the New University plans to open a "preparatory" 
program in fall 2009 and would open additional programs in 2010. 
 
KAZAKHSTAN'S EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Minister Tuymebayev reviewed other Kazakhstani 
achievements in the field of education, including the passage of a 
new law on education that meets international standards by 
establishing a credit system.  He noted that 18 universities have 
signed onto the Bologna process and that a number are seeking 
international accreditation.  The Minister said that Kazakhstan is 
currently working with a U.S. accreditation organization in the area 
of technology and would be interested in having more U.S. 
accreditation organizations come to Kazakhstan.  He proudly noted 
that Kazakhstan was ranked first in a recent UNESCO "Education for 
All" report, had taken seventh place in a recent TIMS (Teaching 
Integrated Math and Science) contest, has over 20 graduates 
currently working in the United States in the field of science, and 
is ready to compete in other international contests.  Minister 
Tuymebayev also commended U.S. oil companies that have major 
investments in Kazakhstan for sponsoring education training for 
their "young staffs." 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Turning to the topic of English, the Minister noted that 
he is personally responsible for implementing the advanced study of 
English in Kazakhstan's colleges and universities.  "Once young 
people have a good command of English", he stated, "A number of 
issues will be addressed."  He added eagerly that English opens more 
doors than other regional languages, such as Russian. 
 
ACCREDITATION OF U.S. SCHOOLS IN KAZAKHSTAN 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Ambassador noted that there are a number of 
international schools in Kazakhstan, and asked for advice in 
obtaining Kazakhstani registration and accreditation for them.  The 
Minister said he supported this goal.  He explained that there is a 
"clear procedure, a package of documents," and said that interested 
schools could meet with Serik Irsaliyev, Director of the Ministry's 
Strategic Development Department, to discuss further.  He noted the 
success of the recently-opened, British-run Haileybury School in 
Almaty, and said he would welcome new projects, mentioning that 
there is a clear demand for such schools among expats and locals. 
To illustrate, he claimed that even at $20,000 per year, 
Haileybury's slots were completely filled in no time. 
 
BIOLOGICAL THREAT REDUCTION ISSUES 
 
¶10. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the proposed location of the Central 
Reference Laboratory the United States is funding to consolidate 
dangerous pathogens and facilitate their scientific study.  He said 
he was aware that some Kazakhstani officials had expressed concern 
regarding the proposed central Almaty location and encouraged all 
sides to come together to make a final decision.  He suggested that 
the government might consider locating the laboratory in Astana, 
given available space and the government's desire to turn Astana 
into a center of higher education.  He noted that he was not making 
a new proposal, but wanted to put all ideas on the table so that a 
final decision can be made and the project can move forward. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The Ambassador also raised concerns about new regulations 
prohibiting foreigners from visiting Otar, a main site for ongoing 
 
ASTANA 00000410  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
U.S.-funded biological threat reduction work, without a government 
waiver.  He pointed out that the requirement to obtain a waiver 30 
days in advance essentially made Otar a closed area, similar to the 
closed cities such as Stepnogorsk during the Soviet era.  Such an 
approach prevents international scientists from assisting quickly 
with the outbreak of disease and makes it difficult for engineers 
expeditiously to resolve issues related to completing the 
construction of two new biosafety laboratories.  The Ambassador 
asked whether it might be possible to obtain a blanket waiver for a 
number of foreigners working on the Otar project.  Tuymebayev 
replied that he appreciates U.S. support on the important Otar 
project.  He said he would ask his government colleagues to resolve 
all outstanding issues and would send letters to other agencies, if 
necessary. 
 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT 
 
¶12.  (SBU) The Minister said he understood that the proposed 
U.S.-Kazakhstan Science and Technology (S&T) agreement was with the 
U.S. side for comment and emphasized that he would like to continue 
cooperation on this issue. The Ambassador agreed, suggesting that we 
should resume working on the S&T agreement once Parliament ratifies 
the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) agreement, which is expected 
to happen soon. 
 
HOAGLAND