VZCZCXRO3678
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHTA #2201/01 3570501
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 230501Z DEC 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7065
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2279
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1642
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2343
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1271
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1837
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1687
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/AMCONSUL ALMATY 2113
RUEAWJL/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC 0060
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002201 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/AAE, SCA/CEN, EUR/RPM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI SNAR KCRM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  INL ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHNSON BILATERAL 
MEETINGS 
 
ASTANA 00002201  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  During his visit to Kazakhstan for the 
inauguration of the Central Asian Regional Information and 
Coordination Center (CARICC) (septel), Assistant Secretary for 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David T. Johnson 
met with Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Umarov and 
Ministry of the Interior's Chairman of the Committee on Combating 
Drugs Zhanat Suleimenov.  A/S Johnson used the opportunity to 
underscore the importance of Leahy vetting, which has recently 
become an obstacle in the selection of training participants for 
some ministries within the Kazakhstani government.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
¶3.  (U) Following the inauguration of the Central Asian Regional 
Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) and the meeting of the 
parties to the CARICC memorandum of understanding on December 9 
(setpel), Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement Affairs (INL) David T. Johnson met with Kazakhstan's 
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Umarov to discuss a wide 
range of issues, including bilateral and multilateral cooperation, 
Kazakhstan's upcoming chairmanship of the Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Leahy vetting. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Umarov thanked A/S Johnson for U.S. assistance to CARICC 
and stressed the importance of sharing intelligence and information 
to fight drug trafficking.  He highlighted effective bilateral 
cooperation, as evinced by the visit of FBI Director Robert S. 
Mueller III, and said that the United States and Kazakhstan have 
almost concluded a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT).  A/S 
Johnson responded that we must continue to build on the CARICC 
Inauguration, ensuring daily interaction between the member states 
and observers in CARICC.  He mentioned the Drug Enforcement Agency 
(DEA's) plan to open its Almaty office by summer and the U.S. desire 
to be an active participant in CARICC despite our status as 
observers. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) A/S Johnson also pointed to signature of the annual INL 
letter of agreement (ALOA) as one of the best ways for the United 
States and Kazakhstan to cooperate in the law enforcement field and 
avoid misunderstandings.  The Foreign Ministry delayed the FY 2010 
ALOA, which remained unsigned by the end of the fiscal year.  Umarov 
took note of A/S Johnson's request, but did not make a specific 
comment on the ALOA. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Umarov briefed A/S Johnson on Kazakhstan's 2010-2020 
justice reform program, which he said will make the justice system 
more transparent and compliant with international standards.  Umarov 
also highlighted Kazakhstan's efforts to improve the protection of 
human rights in law enforcement operations.  When Umarov requested 
U.S. assistance for legal reforms, A/S Johnson responded that he 
would explore potential ways that the United States could assist. 
Umarov explained that the Procurator General's Office is crafting a 
relationship with the American Bar Association (ABA) and that might 
be an effective avenue for bilateral cooperation. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Umarov also briefed Johnson on his meetings during his 
recent trip to Washington.  Umarov reiterated the need for an OSCE 
Summit during its chairmanship next year and suggested that the 
issue of Afghan origin opium could be at the top of the agenda.  A/S 
Johnson explained that the OSCE chairmanship demanded hard work, but 
that the United States wants to support Kazakhstan in this effort. 
Again emphasizing the issue of a summit, Umarov explained that 
Central Asia acts as a buffer between security threats in 
Afghanistan and Europe.  Kazakhstan, which is especially sensitive 
to the issue of terrorism, is key to strengthening this buffer, he 
asserted.  Umarov also highlighted tolerance, counter-narcotics, and 
human rights as other possible priority issues.  He explained that 
President Nazerbayev is well-respected on the issue of tolerance, 
and that Kazakhstan needs to set the example for its neighbors.  A/S 
 
ASTANA 00002201  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
Johnson made clear that he could make no commitment on the issue of 
a summit. 
 
COMMITTEE ON COMBATING DRUGS 
 
¶8.  (SBU) A/S Johnson also inaugurated the INL-funded Interagency 
Counter-Narcotics Training Center and met briefly with Chairman of 
the Committee on Combating Drugs Zhanat Suleimenov on December 9. 
Suleimenov works closely with the Embassy, welcomes international 
cooperation, and strongly advocated for the Embassy during ALOA 
negotiations.  He promised that all deadlines for this year's 
agreement would be met.  He described the assistance being provided 
by the Office of Military Cooperation and thanked A/S Johnson for 
INL assistance. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Suleimenov described Kazakhstan's efforts to fight 
narco-trafficking from Afghanistan, mentioning its cooperation with 
CARICC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Collective 
Security Treaty Organization, though he did not clearly define what 
cooperation with these organizations actually entailed.  Suleimenov 
explained that fewer foreigners have been arrested recently for drug 
trafficking.  He said that the number of "swallowers" (i.e., those 
that carry drugs in their stomachs) has fallen drastically either 
due to the recent drop in migration or the use of new trafficking 
techniques. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Suleimenov pointed out that, since tightening its laws, 
Kazakhstan has the toughest sentencing guidelines in the region for 
drug crimes.  He claimed, "It doesn't matter who you are ... if you 
traffic heroin, you are going to prison for life."  Suleimenov 
ruminated about Kazakhstan's problems, including the need for 
stronger border control and the amount of narcotics being trafficked 
in TIR (International Road Transport Convention) vehicles. 
 
LEAHY VETTING 
 
¶11. (SBU) In both meetings, A/S Johnson briefed Kazakhstani 
officials on Leahy vetting, underscoring that it is a global legal 
requirement.  He assured both Umarov and Suleimenov that the 
obligation is an important congressional requirement, not intended 
to single out Kazakhstan, but a way to assure ourselves, and the 
Congress, about whom we are providing training assistance.  Umarov 
promised to assist and Suleimenov agreed to provide information. 
(NOTE:  Because both appeared to focus on training programs outside 
Kazakhstan, Post will follow up by letter.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶12.  (U) Assistant Secretary Johnson cleared on this cable. 
 
HOAGLAND