US embassy cable - 05ALMATY3553

UNCLAS ALMATY 003553 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (J. MUDGE) 
DEFENSE FOR DASD MACDOUGALL 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PGOV, KZ, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN:  AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH DEFENSE MINISTER 
ALTYNBAYEV 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Ordway met with Kazakhstani 
Minister of Defense General of the Army Mukhtar Altynbayev 
in Astana September 22.  Altynbayev gave an update on the 
military reform process and discussed the developing 
security infrastructure in the Caspian region. He also 
assured Ambassador that President Nazarbayev has issued 
instructions that the December 2005 Presidential elections 
be free and fair, and that there must be no doubt that the 
reported results are accurate. End summary. 
 
2. (U) Altynbayev thanked the Ambassador for U.S. assistance 
in modernizing and reforming the Kazakhstani Armed Forces. 
He noted that the model the Kazakhstanis are using to 
develop their professional NCO Corps is the U.S. system, and 
that he is personally deeply involved in this program. 
Currently, about 60% of Kazakhstani servicemen are 
volunteers, and he expects that number to reach 80-85%. 
 
3. (U) The decision to eliminate the Ground Forces Command 
and assign these units to the Regional Commands has allowed 
Kazakhstan to follow another U.S. example and adopt the 
brigade system for organizing the armed forces. In addition 
to eliminating some 13 redundant organizations, the MOD 
recently formed the 40th Air Assault brigade, which is 
stationed near Astana. 
 
4. (SBU) The MOD continues to work with other government 
agencies on a coordinated Draft State Program for 2006-2010. 
Due to the unstable situation in the south, the Southern 
Regional Command is currently a top priority for the 
Minister. The MOD continues to develop infrastructure to 
develop and support the maritime security capability that 
will be based in the Caspian region as well. Kazakhstani 
armed forces have already established control over airspace 
in the region, and are in the process of manning and 
equipping a brigade-size maritime force near Aktau. The 
governments of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea have 
reached agreement on the transfer of the three vessels from 
the ROK Navy to the Kazakhstan. Although there is an 
agreement in principle for transfer of two Russian vessels 
to Kazakhstan, the vessels have not yet been delivered. 
 
5. (SBU) Following briefings from three English-speaking 
Kazakhstani officers on the perspectives for bilateral 
military cooperation, the development of the Kazakhstani NCO 
Corps, and security in the Caspian region, Altynbayev 
expressed concern over the possible spread of instability 
from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. President Nazarbayev is also 
concerned; he believes that stability is a primary concern, 
and his program for political and democratic reform 
continues apace. Altynbayev is personally acquainted with 
many of the announced Presidential candidates but sees no 
better candidate than the current President. 
 
6. (SBU) He said that Nazarbayev's instructions are that the 
elections be free and fair and that there should be no 
manipulation of election results at any level. Altynbayev 
said that he would personally tell not only his officers but 
local government officials not to interfere with the 
election process. Nazarbayev has made it clear to senior 
Kazakhstani government officials that there must be no doubt 
about the fairness of the election results either from 
Kazkahstani citizens or from the international observers. 
 
7. (SBU) Ambassador emphasized that the USG cannot and will 
not interfere in the electoral process and will support the 
result. If the elections are well and fairly run, then the 
conditions will be set for our cooperation to grow. If there 
are doubts about fairness, this will inevitably cause a 
reduction in cooperation to the detriment of both sides. 
 
8. (U) Minimize for Dushanbe considered. 
 
Ordway 
 
 
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