US embassy cable - 05ALMATY2231

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALMATY 002231 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE), NP/MNA (D. RUST) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2015 
TAGS: KNNP, KZ, MNUC, PARM, PREL, WMD/Non-proliferation, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CANWFZ TREATY 
 
REF: STATE 109258 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John Ordway, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1 .  (C) U.S., UK and French Ambassadors called on FM Tokayev 
June 14 in Almaty to present reftel demarche.  UK Ambassador 
James Sharp spoke for the group.  He introduced the 
discussion by reiterating the support of the P-3 in principle 
for nuclear weapon free zones, and our belief that 
establishment of such a zone in Central Asia would support 
our common non-proliferation goals.  He then read the agreed 
points and provided them as an aide-memoire. 
 
2.  (C) Tokayev, who was joined by Kazakhstani Ambassador to 
the UN Yerzhan Kazykhanov, said that Kazakhstan's position 
was that the CANWFZ agreement should be signed at the level 
of foreign ministers, and only in October.  Uzbekistan was 
insisting that it be signed at the presidential level, and in 
Astana July 5 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization 
summit.  Ambassador Sharp noted in particular our objection 
to Article 12 of the Treaty, which he understood was designed 
to accommodate the Tashkent Treaty.  Ambassadors Sharp and 
Ordway pointed out that this provision would undermine the 
very purposes of the Treaty.  Sharp emphasized that without 
P-5 support the Treaty would have little if any meaning, and 
would not be regarded as a serious document.  Tokayev did not 
disagree, but said that Kazakhstan's Central Asian partners 
nonetheless were insisting on going forward with the Treaty 
as currently drafted. 
 
3.  (C) Ambassador Sharp asked if Kazakhstan would commit to 
consultations with the P-3.  Tokayev said that Kazakhstan was 
prepared to commit to the P-3 to engage in consultations 
during this period before October, and to take the P-3's 
objections "seriously." 
ORDWAY 
 
 
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