INTERVIEW WITH USA AMBASSADOR MR. R. HOAGLAND

Gazeta.KZ
Dec 29 2008
Kazakhstan

Dear readers, we offer answers of H.E. Ambassador of the USA to
Kazakhstan Richard Hoagland for the questions received from the
readers of the Kazakhstani internet source Gazeta.kz.

Question#1 Author: Kuanysh

How will Kazakhstan and USA cooperate on education programs for
our specialists in the United States, especially for construction
engineers?

The United States sponsors a number of excellent educational exchange
programs, ranging from the Fulbright Scholarship for advanced
academics to the FLEX program for high school students. For more
information on these educational opportunities, please visit our
web site at or contact us directly
at info@usembassy.kz.

Question#2 Author: Anvar

Mr. Ambassador, could you please tell us about yourself: when and
where you were born, what educational background you have, what your
family is like, what kind of music you prefer, whether you used to be
a hippie, whether you smoked weed, what kind of sport you are fond
of. What are your religious and political views: are you a democrat
or a republican? For example, I know that you smoke which is quite
unusual for an American! What other typical or non-typical traits of
character do you have?

Thank you very much for your personal interest. I was born in Fort
Wayne, Indiana, and I studied at the University of Virginia and the
University of Grenoble, France. Before joining the Foreign Service,
I taught English as a foreign language in Zaire (which is now the
Democratic Republic of the Congo) and African literature at the
University of Virginia’s Carter-Woodson Institute of African and
Afro-American Studies.

Before coming to Kazakhstan, I served previously as U.S. Ambassador
to Tajikistan 2003-2006, as Charge d’affaires to Turkmenistan July
2007-July 2008, and in the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan 1993-1995. And
so, I know this region pretty well.

Was I ever a hippie and did I ever do the standard "hippie
things"? Let’s just say, like almost all university students, I fully
enjoyed life.

Music? My favorite music is chamber music from all historical periods,
from before Johann Sebastian Bach to after Sergei Prokofiev. I also
very much like traditional American folk music from the Appalachian
Mountains, especially those recordings our Library of Congress made
in the 1930s.

One other detail few people know – I am a passionate gardener. Finally,
I love good food and very much enjoy shopping at "Green Bazaars"
and cooking for myself and my friends.

Question# 3 Author: Alibek

Could you please explain terms for obtaining the Green Card? How is
it issued? What are eligibility requirements? How can application
be submitted?

A Permanent Resident Card, or a "green card," is given to someone
who legally immigrates to the United States. This can be done
in a number of ways, including being sponsored by a relative,
being petitioned for by an employer, or winning the Diversity Visa
lottery. For more U.S. visa information, please visit our web site
at

Question#4 Author: Nair Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

What is U.S. viewpoint on routes of oil and gas transportation to
world markets from the Caspian region?

The United States’ view of this issue is simple. We believe the
more routes that oil and gas can take to get to world markets,
the better. This includes routes through Russia, routes to China,
and routes across the Caspian.

Question#5 Author: Nair Aliyev (Azerbaijan)

Could you please explain what happened to the Caspian Guard program
which was widely discussed several years ago? The program meant to
provide help to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in establishing combat
efficient military naval forces.

There are many programs under which the United States, Kazakhstan,
and other countries cooperate to build mutual security. The name
Caspian Guard has not been used for many years. We continue, however,
to cooperate with Kazakhstan and other countries of the Caspian Basin
to ensure free access and commerce in accordance with international
practice.

Question# 6 Author: Zhanar

Why have cases of racial hostility in the United States increased
with the election of an African-American, Barack Obama, as President
of the United States?

There has not been any rise of racial hostility in America, as
far as I know. In fact, while no nation is perfect, the election
of Senator Obama shows how far the United States has come in race
relations. Both Democrats and Republicans, black people and white
people, as well as people of all other races, have praised Senator
Obama’s election as an historic turning point in race relations in
the United States. Regardless of one’s political party, seeing an
African American take the oath of office as President of the United
States on January 20th will make the great majority of Americans very
proud of their country.

Question#7 Author: Anar

Your predecessor, Mr. John Ordway, predicted problems in interethnic
relations for the next 20 years in Kazakhstan. Do you also support
this point of view?

Ethnic tensions can rise in any country in the world, including the
United States. However, I know that President Nazarbayev takes ethnic
and religious tolerance very seriously, and I believe that Kazakhstan
has every opportunity to become one of the more ethnically harmonious
nations in the world.

Question #8 Author: Zhanar

Is it true that elected US presidents undergo a sanctification ceremony
in one of the main synagogues?

According to the First Amendment to our Constitution, there can be no
establishment of a religion in the United States, and so, obviously,
there is no religious rite or ceremony that new presidents are required
to perform.

Question #10 Author: Andrey

You are a representative of a country upon whose action or inaction
depend the destinies of the world. I hope that you will handle the
responsibility placed on you with dignity during these hard times
for your country and the world. God bless you.

Thank you so much for your kind wishes. It is the greatest honor of
my life to have been chosen by my government as U.S. Ambassador to
Kazakhstan. I hope to see our relationship strengthen in the areas
of political and economic progress, security cooperation, and energy
resource development during my tenure. And I sincerely hope I will
represent my country with dignity.

Question#11 Author: Andrey

Is it possible to arrange non-visa entry for Kazakhstani citizens
to the United States, like the one for Russians citizens to Israel,
for example? Or as we have now for entry to Russia? I think it would
serve only to strengthen trust and respect between the two countries.

The United States has legal requirements that countries must meet
before they qualify for what we describe as "visa waiver status." As
can be seen from the recent accession to visa waiver status of some
Central European countries, these requirements are constantly being
reviewed for different countries. In theory, this could become possible
for Kazakhstan sometime in the future.

Question #12 Author: Zhanbolat Mamyshev, Astana

Will budget and non-budget expenses on various U.S.-sponsored programs
be decreased due to the crisis and the beginning of a recession in
many major world economies?

Like all Americans, I am waiting to see what the new Administration
will decide to do with the budget. However, I think the financial
crisis will probably have more impact on domestic policy budget
choices, while foreign policy will largely remain the same.

Question# 13 Author: Oleg

Mr. Ambassador! I have a question: Is it true that comedian Michael
Zadornov is denied entry into the US due to his mocking of the American
life style and literacy of ordinary Americans? (I hope I expressed
myself correctly) How do you evaluate system of higher education and
Unified National Test/Exam in Kazakhstan from the point of view of
education system in former USSR?

While I am not personally familiar with the details of this particular
case, I can tell you firmly that the United States does not deny visas
based on an applicant’s personal views or on his exercise of freedom
of speech – unless, of course, he advocates terrorism or other forms
of violence.

To answer your second question, the Soviet Union bequeathed an
excellent education system to its successor nations, and so far I am
very impressed with the educational level of Kazakhstanis.

Question# 14 Author: Asset

What kinds of investments were made to Kazakhstan by USA in 2008? What
industries will the US investments cover in 2009?

The United States is a free-market nation and, as such, its government
does not invest in industries in other countries. However, American
businesses are the number-one investors in Kazakhstan, in industries
as varied as building railroad locomotives to helping Kazakhstan
profit from its vast mineral and hydrocarbon resources. While the
global financial crisis might delay some new investments, I have no
doubt that in the long term, American businesses will continue to
invest in Kazakhstan – not only in the energy sector, but across the
whole economy.

Question # 15 Author: Gukas, Erevan

Mr. Ambassador, after recent events when you were not appointed as a
US Ambassador to Armenia due to denial of Armenian genocide in the
beginning of 20th century have you changed your opinion concerning
the given issue?

Thank you very much for this question, because it allows me to set the
record straight. I never, ever "denied the Armenian genocide." That
view was falsely attributed to me by some political extremists who
wanted to make a political statement. What I did, as any diplomat
loyal to his own government must do, was support my government’s
policy. Our view is not "to legislate history." Rather, let both
Yerevan and Ankara fully open their historical archives, seriously
study together the documented history of the period, and mutually
reach a common position based on the objective historical record.

Question#16 Author: Marat

Why does U.S. not acknowledge the exile government of the Chechen
Republic in London?

The United States supports the territorial sovereignty of Russia in
the same way that it supports the territorial sovereignty of Georgia.

Question #17 Author: Russian

Mr. Ambassador, what is the United States’ acknowledgment of Kosovo and
non-acknowledgment of South Ossetia and Abkhazia associated with? Is
a policy of double standards still effective?

I disagree with the premise of your question. The two situations are
completely different. Unlike the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia collapsed
over a period of time in war and ethnic violence. Today, Kosovo is
the seventh country to emerge out of the former Yugoslavia. If you
recall, in 1999 the international community had to intervene in Kosovo
because of the extreme ethnic violence and ethnic cleansing that took
place there.

The international community has spent a lot of time and a lot of
effort working on this problem. The United Nations has been integrally
involved, and Martti Ahtisaari, former UN diplomat, former president
of Finland, and winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, came to
the conclusion that the only possible way forward for Kosovo was
to have internationally-recognized independence. The United States
recognized Kosovo because we thought that it was the right thing
to do, and because, as with other cases in the former Yugoslavia,
we sought an outcome that protects the rights of people to live in
peace, security, and stability. It seems to us that this is the best
possible outcome, with full protection for the rights of minorities,
including the Serbian minority that will continue to live in Kosovo.

On the other hand, Russia’s recognition of the supposed independence
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia contradicts the longstanding support
of the international community (including Russia) for Georgia’s
territorial integrity, and risks destabilizing the broader region. No
country in the world so far, with the single exception of Nicaragua,
has joined Russia in recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Some
might even go so far as to ask if Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be
independent, should not Chechnya and Dagestan be independent, too? I
want to emphasize this is not my view, nor the view of my government,
but I know that some ask this question.

Question #18 Author: Symbat

Will U.S. policy towards Near East countries change and in general,
will the policy of the omnipresent justice and democracy axe in world
politics change with the new U.S. president taking over the office?

U.S. foreign policy has remained through many years generally
consistent under both Democratic and Republican presidential
administrations, though each administration has its own
priorities. Under President Obama, the tone and nuances of U.S. foreign
policy might change – for example, I expect U.S. foreign policy to
become increasingly pragmatic – but long-term U.S. national interests
are consistent.

In our relationship with Kazakhstan, I believe we need to be grounded
in reality. We need mutually and thoroughly to understand the
historical, cultural, and political realities in both our countries –
and we need to respect them. Where they are congruent, we will easily
prosper together. Where they are not fully congruent – and friends can
disagree and still remain friends – we will work to understand each
other’s reality with respect. Where we will find points of agreement,
we will pursue common goals. Where we will sometimes disagree, we
will do so with respect and without recrimination.

Question #19 Author: Bek

We would like to cooperate more with the United States, since it is
a warrant of world safety. It’s commonly known that in many ways
we are squeezed between two large countries, one of them being a
superpower country and the other an ideological claw. All of the
above creates certain difficulties and internal uneasiness. Is it
possible to envision the United States as a warrant of our national
independence and safety in the region?

As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during her October 5 visit
to Astana, we do not believe that there is some kind of competition
for the affections of Kazakhstan among its neighbors. I believe the
government of Kazakhstan is successfully building strong relationships
with nations from every region of the world.

The United States strongly believes that no country is entitled to
some kind of special "sphere of influence" in Central Asia that aims
to exclude other countries. That would be a violation of Kazakhstan’s
sovereignty and its fundamental right to choose its own partners. The
United States will continue to promote openness in the region.

Question #20 Author: Mikhail

Mr. Ambassador, how do you assess civil society development in
Kazakhstan and what kind of support might the United States provide
for its further growth? Thank you.

A vibrant civil society is the cornerstone of democracy. Kazakhstan’s
civil society is developing, with NGOs becoming more and more expert
on how to articulate and promote the interests of the citizens of
Kazakhstan, which range from human rights and media freedom to prison
reform, pensioner support, and environmental protection.

The U.S. Embassy provides support to civil society through the
work of USAID, small grants to help NGOs implement worthy projects,
and exchange programs, such as the International Visitor Leadership
Program and Community Connections, that allow Kazakhstanis to share
ideas and experiences with their colleagues in the United States. We
also bring experts from the United States to work with civil society
leaders in Kazakhstan. The United States is committed to working with
our Kazakhstani partners to build a solid civil society in Kazakhstan.

Question #21 Author: Damir 010

Will the United States invest money into Kazakhstan’s economy?

The Government of Kazakhstan has already laid out an aggressive
program for dealing with the economic crisis that many believe will
be effective. The United States will continue to cooperate with
Kazakhstan on issues of mutual interest, including programs in the
areas of security, healthcare, civil society, and many others. The
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works
closely with its Kazakhstani partners to fund projects important to
Kazakhstan’s further development. Our trade representative in Almaty
continually works to attract new U.S. investment to Kazakhstan.

Question #22 Author: Viktor

Mr. Ambassador, I have a pragmatic question. Nowadays, the automobile
industry of the United States is undergoing huge problems which are
difficult to solve even with the government support. At the same time,
it’s known that the importation of used vehicles from the United
States to Kazakhstan has been developed. Do you think it would be
reasonable to import used and new vehicles to Kazakhstan at a lower
price in order to revive sales in the United States?

While it’s difficult for me to comment on any specific business, the
United States strongly supports increased trade with Kazakhstan. We
commend the government of Kazakhstan’s desire to expand its non-energy
sector economy.

In its goal to become one of the 50 most competitive countries in the
world, Kazakhstan should consider reducing the bureaucratic barriers
that make international trade more difficult than it has to be. The
United States is always prepared to work with Kazakhstan to improve
its business and investment climate.

Questions #23 & #9

Question #23 Author: Murat

Recently the EU announced the program "Eastern
Partnership." Unfortunately, Kazakhstan was not on the list of partner
countries. Mr. Ambassador, is the convergence of the RK and the EU
possible and to what extent, in your opinion? Is it possible for
Kazakhstan to become an associated member of the EU? Do you envisage
membership of the RK in NATO? Thank you.

Question# 9 Author: Tima

We would like to join NATO. Is it possible?

As the American Ambassador, I cannot comment on the European Union’s
policy and plans. NATO has always said the door is always open for new
members. However, in reality, while Kazakhstan cooperates fruitfully
with NATO through its Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), the
government of Kazakhstan has never expressed an interest in joining
NATO as a full member. Under President Nazarbayev’s multi-vector
foreign policy, Kazakhstan has developed excellent relationships with
Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union and those
relationships have served Kazakhstan very well.