Though I had already seen the World Politics Watch article on Senator Biden’s letter to the president of Kazakhstan that Joshua mentioned earlier, I had failed to notice that Joe Biden does not want the public to see it. Call me crazy, but I think a high-ranking senator’s efforts to sway policy of another government is worthy of public scrutiny. And it is only moreso when said senator aspires to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. So, because I think transparency is a good thing, here is the full text as it appeared at KUB.kz and the Kazakh opposition-linked ETG.
March 13, 2007
His Excellency Nursultan Nazarbayev
President, Republic of Kazakhstan
c/o Embassy of Kazakhstan
1401 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC, 20036
Dear President Nazarbayev:
As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I believe strongly that U.S. – Kazakhstan relations are important to both our nations and I hope one day we will be able to work on issues of mutual interest from the position of strategic allies.
I am disappointed, however, that Kazakhstan is not moving more quickly towards becoming a transparent democracy that enjoys full freedom of the press, recognized political parties and the other vital institutions that 15 million Kazakh citizens deserve.
Moreover, I am troubled by recent reports indicating that officials within your government have been interfering with the efforts of political parties to organize, such as in the case of the Atameken party.
Given the tensions and turmoil in the broader Middle East, an open and progressive minded Kazakhstan has the potential to be a bridge between east and west and to play an influential role in diminishing current and potential hostilities. But it can only do so if those who value freedom, democracy and tolerance perceive Kazakhstan as part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Unless visible progress is attained quickly, I will not be able to support Kazakhstan in its quest to assume the chairmanship of the OSCE, which I believe should be reserved for those who fully support the goals and principles enshrined in that organization, including those concerning democratization and human rights.
Mr. President, the fork in the road offers two very different paths. I encourage you to lead Kazakhstan toward a future that creates greater opportunities for your people, and a chance for our two great nations to work more closely to achieve peace and prosperity in your troubled part of the world.
Sincerely,
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
United States Senator
This post was written by...
Nathan Hamm – author of 2974 posts on Registan.net.
Nathan is the Founding Editor and Publisher of Registan.net, which he launched in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with private and government clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural and political factors shape risks and opportunities and how organizations can adjust their strategic and operational plans to account for these variables. Nathan is currently seeking research, analysis, and consulting opportunities. He can be contacted via Twitter or email.
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{ 14 comments }
Nathan, Thanks for posting this letter. A scoop, it seems, for Registan…
I wouldn’t necessarily call it that. KUB.kz and Eurasia Transition Group published it first, and apparently the head of Atameken is giving it out to anyone who asks. I only republish it really because I don’t think either of those sites show up on Google News. (I’m pretty sure I got the ETG link through their RSS feed.)
Biden’s chief of staff doesn’t want this to be out there in the press. I do, so I figured I’d publish it with a nice, clear headline that will show up on Google News Alerts.
Nathan, Thanks for your comment. I take your point, but try to understand the Kazakhs. Under Nazarbayev two opposition eaders were murdered. There is no freedom of press or fair political competition. He does not care what HIS people tells him because the constitution he designed is for HIM and for preserving his personal regime. Ordinary people endure all the hardship of post-Soviet collapse, especially in the rural areas, while Nazarbayev’s daughters and relatives enjoy opulent life. The names of his middle daughter and son-in-law has just been published by FORBES among the richest billionaires of the world. There is nothing left to people — intimidated by politically-motivated persecutions and especially recent murders of its brighest advocates Zamanbek Nurkadilov and Altynbek Sarsembayev — by to appeal to the Western democracies that should wake up and press on gridy Nazarbayev and his relatives and cronies to stop sucking the blood from their own people. Thus, Nathan, with all my respects, we should thank Senator Biden VERY MUCH. And say to other US politicians like Condy Rice — please do not come to Kazakhstan. After having seen how she snubbed an opposition leader during her visit to Kazakhstan last year (this opposition politician is presently tried for his ‘crimes’ by the Nazarbayev’s regime), we all realized that she still serves CHEVRON oil company, not you guys or freedom loving people of the world. If Nazarbayev will not be taught by the West how to treat his own people, he will never respect his compatriots human dignity and will keep telling you his fairy tales about his democratic reforms while reminding you about a long and winding 300 year old way which your fathers marched towards democracy. We in Kazakhstan do NOT wish to wait for 300 years to pass before his relatives and offspring decide to kindly give up the power.
Talgat, that’s fine and I am sympathetic. As I said in my earlier post on the letter, Biden does make fair points about Kazakhstan’s political situation. But much of the rest, such as calling Kazakhstan “part of the problem” in some ill-defined “broader Middle East,” is a counterproductive mess. I am all for the US government pushing Kazakhstan’s government to live up to its democracy and human rights commitments, but I think Biden’s letter is an obvious response to lobbying rather than a well though out position of principle.
That said, I have a few reasons for wanting to publish this:
1) I’m a fan of transparency, especially when a chief-of-staff calls a letter from a senator to a foreign head of state a private matter.
2) I think this needs to be put into context and discussed. Why is Biden suddenly interested in Kazakhstan? Why is he singling out one particular party?
3) Biden’s running for president.
Good call, Nathan. Now I wish I had thought of posting the full text…
Nathan, it fine. I, too, agree that the letter should have been published in the first instance. As to lobbying, I think that the only entity which was capable in lobbying the US administration is Nazarbayev’s ruling regime. They ve got the money, they ve got pattenboggs, they bought NYT which published the rnite page during Nazarbayev’s visit to NYC. We in Kazakhstan glad that — at last — our opposition parties achieved the level of wisdom to play against Nazarbayev at the field where he was the only player and negotiator with the Western policy-makers. Atameken and its leader, who is a us trained lawyer, is a smart guy and obviously knows how and where to embarass Nazarbayev who is used only to imprison and murder his opponents. It is a pity that none of other politicians in Kazakstan has such background and therefore Nazarbayev treats them like sh… So, we all and you americans should be hallpy that after 15 years we ve got a politician who managed to convince your top policy-makers to pay attention to Kazakhstan poor record on human rights, political freedoms and mis-democratization. Exactly because Nazarbayev lobbied Washington, DC successfully corrupt officials like Condy Rice and dick Cheaney went to Kazakhstan to seal their new oil deals, snub or just pacify (for Nazarbayev’s sake) local opposition who were only happy that theyy shook the hands of the US semi-Gods like cheaney and rice. Enough is enough. The harassed humble people of Kazakhstan deserves to have its advocates — be they Atameken or any other smart party – to lobby Washington for the people’s good, not corrupt Nazarbayev’s.
I do not understand what is the purpose of compairing Kazakhstan with the Iraqi? Yes, of course there are countries that are much more troubled. But why to compair a bad case with even a worse case? We should look at the Kazakhstan government’s record from the point of view of the real democracy, not the handicapped like in Iraq, Russia or uzbekistan.
People like senator Bider MUST stop Bush who is using the US might for enriching himself and his cronies. and overthrowing government in any part of the world. Long live the US congress and separation of powers. We need good parliament and genuine separation of powers in Russia ASAP!!!!!
It seems as though with all of this US-bashing, a better trade/social development partner for Kazakhstan would be Russia. Certainly the US has enough ‘warts’ on its recent past diplomatic efforts – there is no excusing this. However, let’s replace CVX or Exxon Mobil with Lukoil or Gasprom, and watch how the ‘real value’ accrues to the small people in Atyrau and Aktau. Biden is not the most credible representative of US foreign policy, but even the tone of his letter is much more about ‘prodding’ someone in a positive direction, rather than giving ultimatums.
I would like to hear a realistic suggestion of what a private oil company should do? Create entitlement programs so that people who are poor do not have to work? Or maybe the oil companies should just leave Kazakhstan, since it is clear to a few of the commenters above that they create only harm in the near term, nothing good…no new jobs, no technical transfer, no wage increases. Maybe Atyrau will become the tourism destination of Central Asia due to its natural beauty, lack of mosquitos, etc., and all those terrible, exploiting foreigners can go somewhere else. Or maybe the US and China and other investors should just leave Nove Uzen, Aktubinsk, Aktau, Kyzl Orda, and others to themselves, since resolving problems inside Kazakhstan is strictly an internal Kazakh matter.
Boratino, you are right. Oil companies should be blamed. Look at the Giffen case which have just started in New York. Only a stupid one beleives that that oil companies like Mobil, exxon and chevron knew nothing about Giffen’s corrupt practicces in Kazakhstan. OF COURSE, THEY ALL DID KNOW HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD PAY TO NAZARBAYEV c/o Giffen to have their oil delas done in Kazakstan.
OK, american boys, instead spanking a monkey why don’t you help the castrated Kazakh press to shed the light on the Giffen case in New York. Nazarbayev’s dogs keep it so sealed and secret. Come on, make some noise, push and kick the fat asses of your congressmen and officials. Show us – central asian barbarians – that your democracy is still alive and you – the US taxpayers – are the masters of your free society. Why is Giffen still enjoying coffee at New York Starbuck’s shops? Why the CIA is trying to cover him up and the White House keeps turning its blind eye on the case? Stop word-masturbation, do something positive to enlighten us and revive our hopes in your super democratic power!
Yea, come on, american boys, show that you have something between your legs.
Dima-Qasym-Aigul, you do know that you leave a trail on the internet right? And you do know that when you leave two comments very close in time to one another, one responding to the other, it looks fishy, right? And you do know that it looks even fishier when all three comments are coming from 213.42.21.54 down there in the sunny United Arab Emirates, it looks even fishier, right?
So, why don’t you man up, use your real name, and do a bit of research on the case yourself?
But, I do have some questions. Who is worse? The person who offers the bribe, or the corrupt government, beloved by many of its citizens, that demands the bribes as a cost of doing business? And what does a case being prosecuted have to do with democracy, exactly? (Keep in mind, the case is being prosecuted; Giffen has not been acquitted. We have bail and presumption of innocence here, so perhaps you can learn something.) And if this case is such a big deal, why don’t you get off your duff and do something about your own government? I mean, I know you’d have to actually live there to do something, but I’m sure you get the point.
Dima-Qasym-Aigul – is an impatient russian(s) from Kazakstan who eagerly wants to play a big guy in place of Nazarbayev (Kazaks)
blowing up a myth about Giffen case, does anybody show me facts on this case?, really I have never seen yet it… mail above, raxmet (thanks)