VZCZCXRO6794
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHTA #1951/01 3070248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 030248Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6742
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2101
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1472
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2173
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1107
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2572
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2875
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1661
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1520
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001951 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RPM, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ENRG KNNP OSCE KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  SCA DAS KROL DISCUSSES BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP 
WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER UMAROV 
 
ASTANA 00001951  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.   (SBU) SUMMARY:  During an October 29 meeting, Deputy Foreign 
Minister Kairat Umarov, SCA Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol, 
and NSC's Director for Central Asia Kurt Donnelly discussed the 
upcoming Global Nuclear Security Summit, Kazakhstan's desire for a 
meeting between Presidents Obama and Nazarbayev, the proposed Annual 
Bilateral Consultations, and the possibility of a summit during 
Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  END SUMMARY. 
 
"EXTENSIVE" BILATERAL AGENDA 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On October 29, Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov told 
SCA Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol and NSC's Director for 
Central Asia Kurt Donnelly that he is "satisfied with the level of 
the relationship" and its "extensive agenda."  He expressed his hope 
for further intensification, especially in the coming year with 
Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Global Nuclear Security Summit 
in Washington in April.  On the latter, Umarov declared "we have 
much to say during this summit" before he listed examples of 
bilateral non-proliferation cooperation, including the Comprehensive 
Threat Reduction Program (CTR).  Looking to the future of the 
relationship, which he termed "even more promising," Umarov 
highlighted Kazakhstan's proposed international fuel bank.  Umarov 
declared the plan's strength, noting Kazakhstan's socio-political 
stability, respectability throughout the region and beyond, foreign 
policy predictability, existing infrastructure, and strong 
export-control regime.  He concluded by welcoming the proposed 
changes to Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), as explained 
during Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman's recent visit to 
Kazakhstan. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Krol agreed on the depth of the relationship and 
extensiveness of the agenda.  He noted the U.S. government's 
appreciation for Kazakhstan's important role in this geo-politically 
sensitive part of the world.  Highlighting cooperation in 
non-proliferation, Krol acknowledged the fuel bank proposal before 
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  He also noted the 
active engagement of the United States on Kazakhstan's membership in 
an IAEA regional group, which would allow Kazakhstan to pursue a 
seat on the board of governors. 
 
BILATERAL AT GLOBAL NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT? 
 
¶5.  (SBU) On the Global Nuclear Security Summit, Umarov argued the 
importance of a meeting between Presidents Obama and Nazarbayev, 
"because it would pave the way for future cooperation and 
intensification of the bilateral relationship," as well as develop 
the "personal chemistry" between the two leaders.  He asserted that 
the bilateral agenda is already substantive, and enumerated "three 
important issues -- non-proliferation, Afghanistan's stability, and 
the OSCE Chairmanship."  He continued that "because the Chairmanship 
is important for Kazakhstan and the whole region, serving as an 
example for others to develop in the same way, the United States 
should show its support of Kazakhstan and its initiatives."  He 
further asserted Kazakhstan's unique position to work on issues due 
to its "acceptability and closeness to all countries -- the EU, 
United States, China, and Russia." 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Krol thanked Umarov and the Kazakhstani government for its 
cooperation on the commercial transit of non-lethal supplies for 
U.S. troops in Afghanistan via the Northern Distribution Network. 
He also highlighted the proposal to send officers to the ISAF 
headquarters in Kabul and fund higher education in Kazakhstan for 
Afghans.  Acknowledging Kazakhstan's geo-political importance, Krol 
suggested that not all Kazakhstan's neighbors have positive feelings 
about its leadership, but stated his hope for the development of 
constructive relationships, especially with Uzbekistan. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) On the proposed bilateral meeting at the Global Nuclear 
Security Summit in Washington in April 2010, NSC Director Donnelly 
explained the intense competition that will occur to determine which 
 
ASTANA 00001951  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
of the 30 heads of state will meet bilaterally with President Obama. 
 Although some in Washington have expressed their positive 
inclination, Kazakhstan needs to do more.  Donnelly described the 
current disappointment in the human rights community regarding the 
irregularities in the trial and appeal of prominent human rights 
defender Yevgeniy Zhovtis.  "This is a serious issue that could 
trump all others in the consideration of a bilateral meeting," 
Donnelly said frankly. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Umarov again expressed his conviction that the meeting 
should occur, saying that the areas of cooperation "should not be 
overshadowed by Zhovtis."  Regarding Zhovtis, Umarov asserted the 
independence of Kazakhstan's judiciary.  "President Nazarbayev 
cannot just call and make him free.  You said the judiciary should 
be independent, but now you think it should be influenced."  Umarov 
concluded by offering his assistance to raise issues that are 
important to the U.S. government, stating that we "will be sorry if 
we miss this opportunity." 
 
ANNUAL BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Umarov stated Kazakhstan's "appreciation and positive 
consideration" of the proposed Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABC), 
and then asked that the two Presidents be the "honorary chairmen" 
and Secretary of State and Foreign Minister "coordinating partners." 
 To combine "symbolism with the practical," he said, "the rest of 
the work would be done by bureaucrats, but some issues are resolved 
easier when the heads of State are involved."  Addressing the 
concern that other Central Asian countries would demand their 
presidents as honorary chairman, Umarov asserted that "objectively, 
they will not, because they will naturally accept it due to the high 
level of our cooperation."  President Nazarbayev is committed to the 
relationship, he stated, and will "do much to move it ahead." 
 
¶10.  (SBU) DAS Krol and Donnelly responded that it is unlikely the 
White House would respond positively to the notion of the Presidents 
as honorary chairmen.  Both noted that the two sides could raise 
issues to the Presidents without them being honorary chairmen.  Krol 
explained that the intention of the ABC is to focus on achieving 
results at the working-level, not establishing a presidential 
commission.  Umarov countered that many issues need to be resolved 
at the highest level, and the ABC could be a good mechanism to move 
the relationship forward at the highest level.  Cutting to the 
obvious crux of the issue, MFA Director of the Americas Desk, Askar 
Tazhiyev, said frankly that some in Kazakhstan wonder if the 
relationship remains a "strategic partnership" since President Obama 
is heading the Presidential Commission with Russia.  "You are 
upgrading Russia, and downgrading us."  Krol countered that the 
relationship with Russia is very different and more problematic than 
the relationship with Kazakhstan.  "We tend to model our 
relationship differently with a country like Kazakhstan with whom we 
have fewer problems.  It is a sign that our relationship is more 
like our partnership with an ally, than with Russia." 
 
OSCE SUMMIT 
 
¶11.  (SBU) In response to Umarov's plea to support an OSCE Summit in 
Kazakhstan, Krol and Donnelly responded that the proposal is under 
consideration in Washington, but many issues  remain, especially 
questions of the summit's substance and President Obama's 
availability.  Although the United States finds a 
Kazakhstani-sponsored meeting on Afghanistan potentially attractive, 
a summit on any other issue, such as European security, would be 
questionable.  Umarov again emphasized Kazakhstan's plea for U.S. 
support and President Obama's attendance.  Although some countries 
(i.e. Russia) object, Umarov stated, Kazakhstan believes the 
situation in Afghanistan merits an OSCE summit and will thus propose 
this topic.  Highlighting the lack of an OSCE summit for the past 10 
years, Umarov asserted the necessity of one "to move the OSCE 
forward."  Still, Umarov acknowledged that "although the highest 
level is best, higher level is good."  Krol concluded that the 
summit issue would probably need to be decided before the December 
1-2 Athens Ministerial. 
 
 
ASTANA 00001951  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
UPCOMING TRAVEL 
 
¶12.  (SBU) To move the ABC forward, Umarov plans to visit Washington 
November 19-20 before the Kazakhstan Investment Forum in New York 
City.  According to Umarov, Foreign Minister Saudabayev hopes to 
travel to Washington in late January to present the priorities of 
their OSCE Chairmanship, fine tune the modalities of President 
Nazarbayev's April visit, and discuss bilateral issues.  He 
expressed his hope that the Foreign Minister will meet Secretary 
Clinton and Vice President Biden at that time.  In addition, he 
pressed for visits to Kazakhstan in the coming year by both 
President Obama and Secretary Clinton.  Krol also told Umarov that 
Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Robert Blake might 
travel to Kazakhstan in December.  Umarov welcomed this visit. 
 
¶13. (SBU) COMMENT:  Krol and Donnelly tried hard to manage 
Kazakhstani expectations of turning a possible April presidential 
bilateral into a presidential inauguration of the Annual Bilateral 
Consultations, but it is clear the Kazakhstanis are under orders 
probably from FM Saudabayev to pursue this and the OSCE Summit 
doggedly.  The Kazakhstanis are also obviously sensitive to being 
treated in any lesser fashion than the Russians -- something we have 
to keep in mind as we develop our relationship with Astana. 
 
¶14. (U) DAS Krol and Director Donnelly cleared this cable. 
 
HOAGLAND