The Claimant, Caratube International Oil Company ("CIOC"), files this Request for Arbitration (the "Request") against the Respondent, the Rebpulic of Kazakhstan ("Kazakhstan"), purusant to the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Kazakhstan Concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of INvestment dated 19 May 1992 an din force since 12 January 1994 (the "Treaty" or the "BIT"). CIOC's claims in this arbitration relate to breaches of the Treaty and also breaches of Contract No. 954 dated 27 May 2002 (as amended) (the "Contract") which provided fore the exploration and production of hydrocarbons within parts of Blocks XXIV-20-C and XXIV-21-A including the Caratube Field in the Beaiganin District of the Aktobe Oblast region of Kazakhstan (the "Field").