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RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #1619/01 2661102
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231102Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6330
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1963
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1332
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2031
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0983
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2499
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2813
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1518
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1399
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001619 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KPAO OSCE KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  INDEPENDENT AND OPPOSITION MEDIA ASK TOUGH 
QUESTIONS 
 
REF:  A.  ASTANA 1616 
  ¶B.  ASTANA 1509 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  The Ambassador answered questions from 
independent and opposition journalists during a media roundtable in 
Almaty on September 14 (ref A).  The lively group, pleased to have an 
opportunity to express their concerns to the Ambassador, peppered him 
with questions about Kazakhstan's upcoming Chairmanship-in-Office of 
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and 
President Obama's views on Kazakhstan.  END SUMMARY. 
 
HOW WILL YOU ENFORCE OSCE COMMITMENTS? 
 
¶3.  (SBU) After a long and fruitful exchange on media freedom in 
Kazakhstan (ref A), the Ambassador agreed to respond to four 
questions on-the-record.  The eager editors immediately queried, 
"Four questions each?"  When the Ambassador reaffirmed that he 
unfortunately only had time for four questions total before his next 
event, pandemonium ensued.  All began to talk at once, vying for the 
chance to pose a question.  Seizing her opportunity, Gulzhan 
Yergaliyeva of "Svoboda Slova" verbally muscled aside the others and 
launched into a long statement/harangue with at least four embedded 
questions:  "What interests us most is the stance of your country -- 
and other OSCE member countries -- in relation to acute problems in 
Kazakhstan."  She told the Ambassador that "the public is getting the 
impression that the West is not pressuring Kazakhstan as it did 
during the Bush administration," and asked what Congress, the Obama 
Administration and the State Department think about recent cases, 
"which violate Kazakhstan's OSCE commitments."  Without pausing to 
allow the Ambassador to answer, Yergaliyeva continued, "What will the 
West do so that Kazakhstan meets all of its obligations as Chairman 
of the OSCE?" 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Ambassador replied, "Many complicated countries have 
been very successful OSCE Chairs, and I am optimistic that Kazakhstan 
will be successful."  The Ambassador said the U.S. government 
continues to do the same work under the Obama Administration as under 
the Bush Presidency, although the tone, nuances, and style have 
changed.  "President Obama believes the best way to bring change is 
by building strong partnerships.  We don't hesitate to say very 
honest words to each other," Ambassador Hoagland underscored, "but we 
also want to build a strong productive partnership with Kazakhstan, 
which, in the end, I think will benefit the people of Kazakhstan 
including those sitting around this table." 
 
¶5.  (SBU) One of the editors followed, "Are there any plans for 
President Obama to come to Kazakhstan?"  Various other 
representatives, led by Taukina, interrupted before the Ambassador 
could begin to answer, "Why should he come to such a country? 
Wouldn't that be rewarding a country that violates the principles of 
the OSCE?"  The Ambassador replied "it is not at all impossible that 
Obama would visit Kazakhstan, although it is not on his schedule at 
this time.  I assure you that the President is very well aware of 
Kazakhstan and watches issues here on a very regular basis." 
 
"REFUSE THEIR VISAS, PLEASE" 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Editor-in-Chief of "Taszhargan" Yermurat Bapi jumped in as 
soon as the Ambassador finished, "I would like to ask the State 
Department to prohibit the entry of certain Kazakhstani officials who 
contributed to the limitation of the freedom of speech in the 
country."  Bapi listed a few key names, starting with the Chairman of 
the Committee for National Security (KNB) and several 
Parliamentarians, and then passed the Ambassador a hand-written list. 
 Although he acknowledged the unlikelihood that the United States 
would prohibit the officials to visit, he announced his hope that the 
information reach the Kazakhstani government.  When the Ambassador 
agreed to provide the information to Washington, other media 
representatives immediately clamored to add more names. 
 
WORTH PAYING ATTENTION TO 
 
 
ASTANA 00001619  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Media representatives voiced palpable concerns about U.S. 
perceptions of Kazakhstan's domestic political situation.  One 
representative asked, "What is Obama's impression of Kazakhstan? 
What is he worried about in relation to Kazakhstan's situation?"  The 
Ambassador replied that President Obama is not "worried" about 
Kazakhstan, which Obama considers a strong Eurasian country, 
important in the region and for U.S. investors.  The Ambassador 
reiterated that Kazakhstan plays an vital role in non-proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction -- an issue that is extremely 
important to President Obama and the United States.  "Kazakhstan is a 
country with a strong, growing, and very well-educated middle class 
-- a country that is worth paying attention to," the Ambassador 
reminded the roundtable participants. 
 
KAZAKHGATE AND THE PRESIDENCY-FOR-LIFE 
 
¶8.  (SBU) One of the editors returned to a favorite opposition media 
topic, asking, "What does President Obama think about the proposal of 
a lifetime presidency in Kazakhstan?  And aren't you worried that he 
will follow President Nazarbayev's model?"  The Ambassador responded, 
"First, I don't think President Obama would choose to be President 
for Life.  But let's be very careful with facts, simply because no 
one has announced that the president of this country will in fact 
become president for life."  Roslana Taukina of "Obsheshtvenaya 
Positsia" followed up with the question, "Are you aware of the 
situation around the Kazakhgate trial?  And can you comment on the 
fact that the judge has again postponed consideration of the case?" 
The Ambassador replied, "It is never a good idea to comment about 
trials that are still under way.  The trial continues to be postponed 
-- not for ideological or political reasons.  But to say more than 
that would not be very wise on my part." 
 
THEY COULD HAVE TALKED ALL NIGHT 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Editor-in-Chief of "Respublika" Oksana Makushina asked, 
"What do you say to Prime Minister Masimov who says that your 
companies who have invested here must place their money in 
Kazakhstani banks?"  The Ambassador responded, "Deputy Prime Minister 
Orynbayev and Minister of Finance Zhamishev told me in our recent 
meetings that foreign companies will not be subject to this proposed 
regular; it is targeted at one specific major sector of the economy" 
(ref B).  After 90 minutes, the journalists still wanted to continue 
the interview indefinitely, asking the Ambassador, who was scheduled 
to depart to host an Iftaar dinner with Kazakh-language journalists 
(septel), if he could just answer a few more questions.  The 
Ambassador compromised, agreeing to accept, and respond to, 
additional questions in writing. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) COMMENT:  The group's intense interest in talking with the 
Ambassador for as long as possible shows the independent and 
opposition media's desire to work with the U.S. government to convey 
their points of view to Kazakhstani leaders.   Post used the event to 
communicate our message; we are trying to encourage Kazakhstan to 
develop more freedom the media, not just as a form of 
"window-dressing" before its Chairmanship-in-Office, but to improve 
good governance and build a pragmatic, long-term partnership with the 
government of Kazakhstan.  END COMMENT. 
 
HOAGLAND