URGENT DEMARCHE ON OSCE ROLE IN KYRGYZSTAN -

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000194 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR AMBASSADORS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PGOV PREL KG SI SUBJECT: URGENT DEMARCHE ON OSCE ROLE IN KYRGYZSTAN - RUPEL'S RESPONSE REF: STATE 57807 ¶1. (SBU) COM spoke March 30 with Foreign Minister Rupel shortly before Rupel,s departure for Bishkek, using reftel talking points to urge him to find a continuous senior OSCE presence on the ground in Kyrgyzstan. Ambassador emphasized that the Secretary had asked him to call and noted that we were also speaking with Ambassador Lenarcic at OSCE Vienna. Ambassador referred to DepSec,s visit to Ljubljana and his discussion with Minister Rupel March 29 to emphasize that this was an opportunity for the OSCE -- and Slovenia -- to take advantage of the historic moment in Kyrgyzstan. He said we had been confused why it had not been possible to keep a senior level OSCE envoy in Bishkek to provide the political leadership during this critical period. ¶2. (SBU) Rupel first responded by noting that there is the OSCE Mission in Bishkek, headed by the Swiss Ambassador. Ambassador replied that we needed a more senior political presence to come in and stay. We could not understand why Alojz Peterle had left on the weekend to be replaced by Secretary General Kubis who then turned around and left March SIPDIS ¶29. Rupel asked how long we felt that the senior presence on the ground would be necessary. Amb replied that it was until things on the ground had stabilized and it was clear that there is an agreed upon plan to move forward. He said we were talking about weeks, at least, not days. ¶3. (SBU) Rupel said, &This is something we can do.8 He volunteered that Peterle had left Bishkek because he did not want to share the limelight with Kubis and not because of his European Parliament responsibilities. ¶4. (SBU) Rupel agreed to get back to the Amb and added that he owed the Secretary a call back as well. Amb said that he looked forward to hearing from him soon. ROBERTSON NNNN 2005LJUBLJ00194 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED v1.6.2