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RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #1207/01 2020725
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210725Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5827
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1770
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1839
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1137
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0798
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1322
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1234
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2392
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2710
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1709

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASTANA 001207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ECON SOCI KPAO KMDR KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  AMBASSADOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE IN AKTAU 
 
REF:  ASTANA 1202 
ASTANA 1201 
ASTANA 1196 
 
ASTANA 00001207  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The Ambassador travelled to Aktau on July 15-16. 
Aktau, located in Mangystau oblast (province) in western Kazakhstan, 
is a small city known primarily for its oil production and as 
Kazakhstan's only operational port on the Caspian Sea.  While in 
Aktau, the Ambassador met with Askar Nurgaliyev, Deputy Akim of 
Mangistau, and afterwards held a press conference at the Akimat 
(regional government offices).  The turnout for the press conference 
was larger than expected, and the journalists asked more than the 
perfunctory questions, showing a real interest not only in the 
substance of the Ambassador's trip, but also in President Obama and 
in the United States in general.  The journalists' questions were 
thoughtful and wide ranging, as the transcript of the press 
conference shows, and they illustrate the eagerness among everyday 
Kazakhstanis to engage with the United States and the Obama 
Administration.  END SUMMARY. 
 
COVENTIONAL -- AND UNCONVENTIONAL -- WISDOM 
 
¶2.  "Kazakhstan Today" news agency filed a standard, representative 
account of the Ambassador's visit.  The agency reported that the 
Ambassador supported investment in Mangistau region, and quoted him, 
"I, as the American Ambassador in your country, need to understand 
the details and get acquainted with projects being implemented so I 
will be able to explain to the U.S. government, to the President of 
the United States of America, as well as to large investment 
companies, the benefits of cooperation between our two countries." 
Along with the television coverage of the visit, "Kazakhstan 
Today's" report focused on the meetings and tours on the 
Ambassador's schedule, covering the event in the manner one would 
expect a provincial media outlet to report on a visiting dignitary. 
 
¶3.  However, the questions at the press conference were a surprise. 
Rather than asking a few questions about the purpose of the visit 
and shooting enough quick footage to file perfunctory reports, the 
reporters stayed to ask a series of questions that were not directly 
related to the visit.  Particularly striking was a question about 
how Kazakhstanis could reach out to ordinary Americans and teach 
them more about Kazakhstan, which led to a humorous exchange between 
the Ambassador and a would-be CNN correspondent.  Another example 
was a question about Kazakhstan's newly-enacted, controversial 
Internet law, in which the reporter prefaced his question by calling 
the United States a paragon of democratic development.  Reporters 
also asked eagerly when President Obama would be coming to 
Kazakhstan.  None of these questions is likely to find its way into 
newspaper stories, but they underlined a hunger for information 
about and engagement with the United States that contrasts with 
negative portrayals of the United States in Russia's leading media 
outlets -- which are a principal new sources for Kazakhstanis. 
(COMMENT:  This very human encounter with western Kazakhstani 
reporters illustrates that any efforts and resources we are able to 
focus on countering anti-Americanism in the local media will be 
amply rewarded.  END COMMENT] 
 
¶4.  The following is the transcript of the Ambassador's press 
conference in Aktau, July 15: 
 
Ambassador:  I wanted to say, very briefly, thank you to Deputy Akim 
Nurgaliyev because we have just completed a very, very impressive 
presentation on the economic, social, and financial growth of 
Mangistau Oblast (province) and its plans for the future. 
 
I don't really want to waste your time by making a boring speech 
that might not be very interesting for you.  What I would like 
better is if we could have almost a roundtable.  You could ask me 
many questions and any questions, and we can talk together. 
 
So what questions do you have? 
 
 
ASTANA 00001207  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
Q:  Which project did you find most interesting? 
 
Ambassador:  It would be impossible to say that one project is more 
interesting than any other.  What was most interesting to me was the 
composite view for the future, and it's in the slogan, "Earth, Sea, 
and Sky," looking at the entire possibility for future growth. 
 
Q:  Why are you here? 
 
Ambassador:  As the U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, it is my 
responsibility to learn as much as I can about the country and its 
people so that I can inform my government better about the objective 
realities of the country.  So for me this really isn't a vacation; 
this is part of my work. 
 
Q:  What other regions have you visited? 
 
Ambassador:  Since I have relatively recently come to Kazakhstan, I 
have not travelled very extensively.  I have visited Atyrau, and I 
have visited Almaty many times.  Next month I will go to 
Ust-Kamenogorsk.  I then plan to visit Shymkent.  And, of course, I 
was in Semipalatinsk with President Nazarbayev in June.  Also, in 
March I was in Baikonur. 
 
Q:  This is your first visit to Mangistau.  What are your 
impressions? 
 
Ambassador:  I'm just beginning the visit, so I'm sure my 
impressions will grow during the next two days.  But my initial 
impression is the great possibilities for this city and for the 
region around this city.  In fact, I told the Deputy Akim that I 
want to come back in 20 years, because I know I will not be able to 
recognize this area because of the huge growth and development that 
will happen. 
 
Q:  What is your impression of other regions which you have already 
visited? 
 
Ambassador:  When I travel around Kazakhstan, it makes me think of 
the United States, because we too are a vast territory with many 
different kinds of landscapes, from mountains to deserts to great 
agricultural areas.  So I look at Kazakhstan, and I think of the 
diversity and great variety that exists here.  I also recognize the 
real economic development that has happened since independence in 
Kazakhstan, and I am also impressed by the special attention that 
Kazakhstan pays to education for its citizens. 
 
Q:  Supplies for Americans in Afghanistan are going through 
Kazakhstani territory, and especially through the seaport in Aktau. 
What do you think of Kazakhstan's assistance to the U.S. effort in 
Afghanistan? 
 
Ambassador:  Kazakhstan has for many years been a very good partner 
in fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and in the region.  For many 
years, we have had over-flight agreements for our state aircraft 
that are involved in Afghanistan, and we have also had for many 
years what is called a divert agreement:  if our aircraft have 
problems, they can land at Almaty International Airport for help. 
This new transit agreement is another positive step, because it 
allows the transport of non-lethal supplies for our soldiers in 
Afghanistan through the territory of Kazakhstan.  The Obama 
administration is following a new policy in Afghanistan that we hope 
will be really successful.  President Obama and his advisors and 
generals know that there is not a really only a military solution 
for Afghanistan.  There must be humanitarian and there must be 
economic solutions to develop stability and prosperity for that very 
troubled country.  Kazakhstan is playing an increasing role in the 
humanitarian support for Afghanistan. 
 
Q:  What do you think about the recent G8 Summit? 
 
Ambassador:  I thought it was interesting that when a journalist 
 
ASTANA 00001207  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
asked President Obama what he thought of the summit, his response 
was, "I think sometimes we have too many summits."  The problem is 
that summits can meet and make many decisions, but then the 
governments involved are responsible for implementing those 
decisions, and it doesn't always happen.  But the real value of 
these summits is that they allow the leaders and their advisors to 
talk face to face and to try to solve specific problems, and that's 
very positive. 
 
Q:  I have travelled to America, and many people there don't know 
much about Kazakhstan.  How can we increase interest in and 
knowledge of Kazakhstan in the United States? 
 
Ambassador:  I agree with you.  I am sympathetic about that problem. 
 One thing that we need is more international journalists who are 
actually based here in Kazakhstan so that they can do regular 
reporting. 
 
Q:  How can I become an international journalist? (Laughter) 
 
Ambassador:  I have another part to my answer, but let me answer 
that specifically.  CNN International, Cable News Network, is very 
widely broadcast in the United States and all over the world.  They 
have a regular program where they work with international partners 
from many countries.  If your television stations produce reports, 
they can be broadcast on CNN International.  The press and 
information section of the American Embassy would be happy to 
discuss how to do this with you, to take advantage of these kinds of 
possibilities. 
 
Let me give you another answer to your question.  Your embassy, the 
Embassy of Kazakhstan in Washington, DC, is extremely active and 
very successful in publicizing Kazakhstan.  Your ambassador, Erlan 
Idrissov, is working on a project right now that will bring 
Kazakhstani culture to the United States.  It will be a six-month 
program of joint cultural ventures to publicize Kazakhstan.  It will 
involve cinema, music, and theater, and joint ventures between the 
museums of our countries.  So that will be one more step forward. 
 
Q:  When is the President of the United States coming to 
Kazakhstan? 
 
Ambassador:  President Obama pays close attention to Kazakhstan.  In 
fact, soon after he was elected, one of his very early telephone 
calls to foreign leaders was to President Nazarbayev.  He has said 
that he would be honored to visit Kazakhstan, but at this moment 
it's not on the schedule yet.  But I hope during the time that I am 
United States Ambassador in Kazakhstan, I can welcome and host my 
President on a visit to your country. 
 
Q:  For other countries, the United States is an example of 
democratic development.  In the United States, NGOs are very 
developed.  After our meeting, you are meeting with local NGOs. 
What will you talk about, and will you talk about the new Internet 
law? 
 
Ambassador:  I don't think that I will talk about the new Internet 
Law with these NGOs because that law has already been signed.  I 
will talk about the importance of civil society, meaning, in part, 
NGOs working closely with their government.  But let me say 
something about the Internet Law.  Our position, as the U.S. 
Government, is that it is important now for Kazakhstan not to use 
that law to limit freedom of speech and to limit freedom of the mass 
media.  We will watch closely how the law is implemented, and we 
will not be shy to make our views known. 
 
Q:  Could you briefly talk about U.S. assistance to Kazakhstan, 
including in the fields of health care and education? 
 
Ambassador:  We have so many programs with Kazakhstan that it would 
probably take me another hour to describe all of them.  We have 
cooperative programs in economic and financial development and in 
 
ASTANA 00001207  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
healthcare development.  We have many different kinds of educational 
and professional exchange programs.  We have extremely important 
programs together in non-proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction, and in many other areas.  We have just had a very good 
visit by Under Secretary of State Bill Burns with President 
Nazarbayev, and we agreed that we will establish a Bilateral 
Cooperation Commission to make our work together a little more 
rational.  This commission will cover all of our areas of 
cooperation including security, political cooperation, the human 
dimension, energy, and economic trade and investment. 
 
 
HOAGLAND