DATE=12/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - KAZAKHSTAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257343
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  U-S Vice President Al Gore and Kazakhstan 
President Nursultan Nazarbayev have presided in 
Washington over the sixth annual session of the U-S - 
Kazakh joint commission.  The public portion of the 
meeting included criticism by Mr. Gore of Kazakhstan's 
sale of Soviet-era MIG-21 fighter aircraft to North 
Korea, earlier this year.  V-O-A's David Gollust 
reports from the White House.

TEXT:  The discovery late last summer that Kazakhstan 
had sold North Korea 40 of the 1960's-vintage fighter 
planes put a chill in relations between the United 
States and Kazakhstan, by far the largest of the 
Central Asian countries that became independent with 
the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The aircraft transfer, and also U-S doubts about the 
fairness of elections held in Kazakhstan over the past 
year, had put the joint commission meeting in at least 
temporary jeopardy.  But Vice President Gore directed 
that planning for the session to go forward last 
month, after Mr. Nazarbayev ordered a series of 
arrests in the MIG case along with reform of his 
government's arms-export system.

Mr. Gore held a private meeting with President 
Nazarbayev in advance of the final commission session.  
And with reporters present for the opening of the 
plenary at his ceremonial office, Mr. Gore said he had 
had a "candid" discussion on the problem issues with 
the Kazakh leader:

                 /// GORE ACT ///

      We talked about the transfer sale of MIG-21 
      aircraft from Kazakhstan to North Korea, which 
      was a serious violation of Kazakhstan's 
      policies.  I have also raised with you our 
      concerns about the elections for president and 
      parliament in Kazakhstan this year. Fortunately, 
      you have taken action to investigate and punish 
      those involved in the arms transfer and have 
      pledged to tighten export controls. 
      
            /// END ACT ///

President Nazarbayev, for his part, said his 
government is reforming its election laws to conform 
with recommendations by the O-S-C-E -- the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- 
and is battling corruption.

He said the Kazakh economy has managed to score modest 
but steady growth despite the recession afflicting 
neighboring Russia.  But he appealed for greater 
bilateral U-S aid and investment -- in line with 
Kazakhstan's size and influence, and beyond what he 
said has been a "stereotyped group approach" by the 
Administration to the former Soviet republics.

The Kazakh leader expressed his government's concern 
over separatism and religious extremism in the Central 
Asian region and said Kazakhstan supports 
international action against Afghanistan's dominant 
Taleban movement, which he said is supporting 
terrorism.

He also stressed his support for U-S efforts to 
promote a pipeline to carry Kazakh and other Caspian-
basin oil to market through Turkey, even though, he 
says, a route through Iran would be economically more 
feasible.

The U-S and Kazakh delegations signed three commercial 
agreements and nine inter-agency accords to cooperate 
in anti-terrorism and nuclear-non-proliferation 
efforts, among others.  President Nazarbayev will hold 
a meeting with President Clinton here on Tuesday.   
(Signed)

NEB/DAG/TVM/WTW



20-Dec-1999 16:28 PM EDT (20-Dec-1999 2128 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.