US embassy cable - 05ALMATY3551

UNCLAS ALMATY 003551 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, KZ, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR ORDWAY CALLS ON EMERGENCY 
SITUATIONS MINISTER 
 
REF: ALMATY 3147 
 
1. (SBU) Summary/Background: Ambassador Ordway met with 
Kazakhstani Minister of Emergency Situations Shalbai 
Kulmakhanov in Astana on September 21.  In a cordial 
meeting, covered by local press, Kulmakhanov discussed the 
challenges his ministry faces and his hopes for continued 
cooperation with the United States.  Local press interviewed 
the Ambassador after the meeting, questioning him about the 
U.S. response to Hurricane Katrina. 
 
2. (U) Shalbai Kulmakhanov, 59, was named Minister of 
Emergency Situations in August 2005. He replaced Mukhambet 
Kopey, who had led the Ministry since its elevation from 
agency to ministerial status in September 2004.  Previously, 
Kulmakhanov served as akim of his native Almatinskaya 
oblast.  A construction engineer by trade, he spent much of 
his career as a Communist Party bureaucrat in the Kazakh SSR 
and, since independence, also spent four years heading the 
predecessor agencies of the Ministry of Emergency Situations 
(MES).  End Summary/Background. 
 
3. (U) Kulmakhanov told the Ambassador that he was pleased 
with the Ministry's record of cooperation with the Arizona 
National Guard.  He hopes to expand cooperation with the 
United States to include long-term training for MES 
firefighters in Phoenix, internships for MES executive 
personnel with FEMA and language training.  Noting that the 
MES budget is set to increase by 29% in 2006, Kulmakhanov 
also expressed interest in buying American vehicles for MES, 
possibly including helicopters. 
 
4. (U) Kulmakhanov said that Kazakhstan will invite 
representatives from the Arizona National Guard to 
participate in a 2006 exercise.  He was enthusiastic about 
MES' participation by computer in the RESCUER MEDCUER 
exercise, which took place in Germany and Georgia.  He said 
Kazakhstan would be interested in hosting the 2006 iteration 
of the exercise. 
 
5. (SBU) Asked by the Ambassador what significant threats 
the MES is concerned about, Kulmakhanov named natural 
disasters as most important.  Specifically, MES is concerned 
about possible flooding in the Syr Darya river valley (South 
Kazakhstan), flooding in any region of the country resulting 
from runoff from melting snow and earthquakes.  Kulmakhanov 
did not mention avian influenza, but when queried on that 
subject by the Ambassador he described the MES role as one 
of coordination (Note: The Ministry of Emergency Situations 
chairs the GOK interagency panel on avian influenza; see 
Reftel.)  Noting that the Ministries of Health and 
Agriculture were the natural responders to the problem, 
Kulmakhanov did say that MES has helped local authorities 
implement prevention and response measures. 
 
6. (U) After leaving the meeting with Kulmakhanov, the 
Ambassador was interviewed briefly by three Kazakhstani 
television journalists.  Their questions addressed the U.S. 
Government's response to Hurricane Katrina and its 
acceptance of foreign assistance.  When asked specifically 
whether Kazakhstan had offered or provided assistance, 
Ambassador noted that the idea was raised during former 
President Clinton's visit; however the United States and the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs are still consulting on the 
amount and form of any prospective aid that Kazakhstan might 
provide. 
 
7. (U)  Minimize for Dushanbe considered. 
 
Ordway 
 
 
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