Cablegate: Codel Faleomavaega Meets with President Nazarbayev

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FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
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INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7241
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 8138
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2241
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RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1825

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002432

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

SCA/CEN FOR M. O'MARA

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y original garbled

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KZ
SUBJECT: CODEL FALEOMAVAEGA MEETS WITH PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV

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1. (SBU) Summary: In a one-hour meeting with Congressmen
Faleomavaega and Cannon and the Ambassador, President
Nazarbayev discussed Kazakhstan's development, praised U.S.-
Kazakhstan relations, critiqued U.S. foreign policy and
offered advice on Russia. Nazarbayev called Kazakhstan the
United States' strongest ally in the region on terrorism,
non-proliferation, and extremism and said that Kazakhstan
still hopes for U.S. support for its OSCE chairmanship bid.
He remarked that U.S. talk of spreading democracy in the
Middle East and Central Asia "raises questions." In
Afghanistan, "you can't have democracy," he opined.
Nazarbayev expressed concern about relations between Russia
and the West, saying that "no one is setting policy on
Russia." End Summary.

2. (SBU) President Nazarbayev began his one-hour meeting with
Congressmen Faleomavaega and Cannon and the Ambassador by
thanking the U.S. for its support and for its "friendly
advice" and "good criticism." Nazarbayev remarked that U.S.
assistance is important for Kazakhstan's independence because
of its difficult position "among Russia, China, and the
Islamic world." He also highlighted key areas of U.S.-
Kazakhstan cooperation, calling Kazakhstan the United States'
strongest regional ally on issues such as non-proliferation,
terrorism, and extremism. "We are supporting the U.S in Iraq
and Afghanistan," he said, "and believe these are our common
missions." Nazarbayev added that Kazakhstan is ready for the
chairmanship of the OSCE, and believes and hopes that the
U.S. will support its bid.

3. (SBU) Nazarbayev then assessed Kazakhstan's progress. At
the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan's
development was ahead of only Turkmenistan and Tajikistan
among Soviet republics, according to Nazarbayev. Now, he
said, "we are in first place." In economic and political and
social achievement, "Kazakhstan is the most progressive," he
claimed. Nazarbayev noted that the economy has grown 10%
annually and that the well-being of the population has
increased significantly. He described recent constitutional
amendments as further advancing democracy by strengthening
the parliament and giving presidential functions to the
parliament and local authorities.

4. (SBU) Turning his attention to U.S. foreign policy,
Nazarbayev said that a missile defense system in Europe might
be the right idea, but that the timing and manner of
implementation is wrong. He lectured on U.S. efforts to
promote democracy in Central Asia and the Middle East,
efforts which he believes "raise questions." Many of the
leaders who support the U.S. in the region are not democrats,
he said. The opposition in the region is composed of
extremists, communists/socialists, and nationalists.
Nazarbayev emphasized that "here is a different culture" and
that movement must come gradually. He was particularly
skeptical about Afghanistan and Iraq. "You can't have
democracy in Afghanistan, he said. "The day your troops leave
it would be an Islamic country." He predicted a similar
scenario in Iraq.

5. (SBU) Nazarbayev next analyzed Russia and its relations
with West. Talks of a missile defense system are creating a
wave of nationalism in Russia, opined Nazarbayev. All
Russians are applauding as Russia resumes strategic bomber
flights and pursues a new generation of weapons. "We don't
feel very happy about this escalation," said Nazarbayev. "I
told Putin this is a stupid policy. Russia should not
confront the western world," he added.

6. (SBU) Nazarbayev was also critical of Western strategies
toward Russia. "I have a feeling that no one is setting
policy on Russia," he said. Russia needs to be embraced, he
suggested, and not pushed away. Western countries must
consider that Russian pride has been hurt with the collapse
of the Soviet Union, but instead they are talking with a
"blunt and rude message." This ineffective approach, he
stated, concerns Kazakhstan because "it splits the world into
confrontation."

7. (SBU) Finally, Nazarbayev discussed disarmament. He
accused nuclear-weapons states of discrimination, because
they continue to develop their arsenals while others are not
allowed to pursue nuclear weapons. He recommended that the
U.S. reduce its arsenal and promise to stop further
development of nuclear weapons. He also suggested that the

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U.S. introduce a new treaty to replace the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that would forbid the
use, development, or transportation of nuclear weapons.

8. Codel Faleomavaega did not clear this cable.
ORDWAY

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