KYRGYZ RECEIVE OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION POINTS

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001148 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - GEHRENBECK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL ECON OSCE KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ RECEIVE OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION POINTS REF: STATE 126089 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered revised reftel points September 14 to Nuran Niyazaliyev, Deputy Director of the MFA's Department of International Organizations and Security Affairs. Niyazaliyev listened with interest, but noted that the Kyrgyz government might not send a delegation to the Warsaw Human Dimension Implementation Meeting. "Unlike some local NGOs," he explained, "the government may not have funding for this." ¶2. (SBU) Niyazaliyev sought clarification regarding the U.S. approach to an OSCE Charter, commenting that codifying OSCE operations would benefit members' understanding of the OSCE's overall mission, not unlike the UN Charter. He added that the Helsinki Act alone does little to clarify the OSCE's mandate. Poloff explained that the U.S. is not willing to negotiate a new Charter because the current structure has served the OSCE well. ¶3. (SBU) Niyazaliyev asked whether U.S. support for Kazakhstan's bid for OSCE Chairmanship has been revoked. Poloff commented that Kazakhstan's recent parliamentary elections have raised important questions about Kazakhstan's readiness to serve as Chairman-in-Office (CiO),and added that the U.S. will continue to do all it can to help Kazakhstan meet the high standards of the CiO. ¶4. (SBU) Post made minor revisions to reftel points. One point had urged that President Bakiyev "sign into law the bill that already passed by Parliament which decriminalizes libel and slander." President Bakiyev signed the bill in question; however, the specific provision to decriminalize libel and slander had been removed from the signed version of the bill. Poloff expressed disappointment that the provision decriminalizing libel and slander was removed and urged Kyrgyz government action to decriminalize libel and slander. Post also took out the references to "recent incidents of harassment" against Edil Baisalov and Valentina Gritsenko. The physical assault on Baisalov by unknown persons, while serious, took place in April 2006, and Baisalov now serves as the executive secretary of the prime minister's political party. The Gritsenko claim appears based on a press article alleging "persecution" because a police official filing a lawsuit against her for damage to his reputation resulting from an article she wrote. In our regular contacts with her and her organization, she has not raised a claim of harassment with us. YOVANOVITCH