VZCZCXRO3801
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHTA #1810/01 2800121
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070121Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6566
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2021
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1390
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2089
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1036
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2528
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2833
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1577
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1451
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001810 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM KPAO KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  PARLIAMENTARIAN SEES GROWING ROLE FOR 
LEGISLATURE 
 
REF:  A.  ASTANA 1807 
      ¶B.  ASTANA 1183 
 
ASTANA 00001810  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  On September 23, Parliamentarian Daria Klebanova 
spoke about the growing role of the Parliament and anticipated 
domestic violence legislation.  Also an active journalist, she 
contradicted recent negative reports by civil society sources and 
termed the media climate "positive."  At the same time, she 
highlighted financial challenges associated with media ownership and 
her fear of mounting Chinese influence in this realm.  END SUMMARY. 
 
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEGISLATION EXPECTED THIS YEAR 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Daria Klebanova, member of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of 
Kazakhstan's Parliament) since 2004, described to PolEcon Chief on 
September 23 the growing importance of Parliament in Kazakhstan. 
Given its budgetary and legislative authority, she asserted that it 
plays a critical role in response to the economic crisis and in 
preparation for its 2010 Chairmanship of the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  She claimed that 
Parliament must pass -- before the end of the year -- numerous laws 
to bring Kazakhstani legislation closer to the OSCE standards. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Klebanova expects the Parliament to adopt this year the 
long-anticipated law on domestic violence, which Klebanova considers 
a serious problem in Kazakhstan.  She said that the legislation 
should clearly define the terminology, legal procedures, and 
punishments, fund "crisis centers," and add domestic violence 
experts to the police force.  Klebanova highlighted her regret that 
Parliament would not likely pass this year another important law of 
the same package -- "On Equal Rights and Opportunities for Men and 
Women."  Klebanova underlined this bill's challenging nature, 
especially with respect to the establishment of quotas for female 
participation in politics.  (NOTE:  The Strategy for Gender Equality 
set a target quota of 40% women in government.  Currently, 17 women 
and 90 men serve in the Mazhilis.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Klebanova admitted that the Public Chamber, which was 
established in the Mazhilis so that opposition political parties and 
civil society could voice their opinions on draft legislation, does 
not function effectively.  She blames the opposition for its failure 
to utilize that opportunity to become involved in the legislative 
process.  (NOTE: The opposition political parties have, admittedly, 
failed to take full advantage of the Public Chamber, but leading 
civil society activists who are Chamber members point to its 
shortcomings as reasons.  Most importantly, the Chamber does not 
have the opportunity to review all legislation.  END NOTE.) 
 
"POSITIVE" MEDIA CLIMATE 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Klebanova, journalist and owner of the television company 
formerly known as "Rakhat," termed Kazakhstan's current media 
climate "positive."  When asked about civil society concerns that 
media freedom is deteriorating (ref A), she deflected the question. 
In general, she asserted media responsibility and caution when 
publishing critical materials in order to avoid libel suits.  On the 
Internet law (ref B), Klebanova called it pointless, because 
Internet users can circumvent blocked sites.  During Parliamentary 
discussion of the law, she voiced this opinion, but voted for it due 
to her membership in the ruling Nur Otan political party.  In her 
opinion, the government persisted in passing the Internet law, 
because it "sometimes needs to prove that it is 'the boss' and that 
it can, no matter what, have things go the way it wants." 
 
¶7.  (SBU) When the discussion turned to business questions, 
Klebanova became more animated, obviously preferring this 
non-controversial subject matter.  She enumerated the financial 
challenges of owning a television station, including the high 
programming and satellite costs.  Given the scarcity of commercial 
advertisements, she asserted that private media outlets only survive 
thanks to government contracts.  Klebanova commended the government 
 
ASTANA 00001810  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
for its efforts to distribute contracts evenly among various media 
outlets.  According to Klebanova, the government must support local 
media, because it otherwise risks a takeover by Russian and Chinese 
media.  Given the high number of Russian speakers and proximity to 
Russia, Russian television programs are traditionally popular in 
Kazakhstan.  In the northern parts of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstanis often 
have better access to Russian channels than to Kazakh ones.  In 
contrast to her generally benign view of Russian media, she 
expressed concern over China's recently-launched Russian-language 
television company designed to cover Russia and Kazakhstan. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) COMMENT:  The 46-year-old Klebanova is a journalist by 
training (and alum of a 1992 Voice of America training program) and 
still does weekly reviews of political and social events for her 
television station.  Considered one of the liberal-leaning members 
of the Nur Otan party, she has, on occasion, publicly objected to 
controversial draft laws, such as the Internet law.  However, Nur 
Otan party discipline is strong, and party members rarely register 
their reservations with a "nay" vote.  END COMMENT. 
 
HOAGLAND