Kyrgyz Consular Update: US Contractors, Kazakhstan and

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001328 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS CENTCOM FOR: STEVEN LAPLANTE, JOINT INTERAGENCY COORDINATION GROUP DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/ECC - JEFFREY HARTSHORN EUR/ACE - THOMAS ADAMS SCA/CEN - DAVID GEHRENBECK FRANKFURT FOR RCO RUSSEL BROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC CVISPRELPGOV KG KZ SUBJECT: Kyrgyz Consular Update: US Contractors, Kazakhstan and e-visas BISHKEK 00001328 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: On October 10, Kyrgyz MFA Consular Affairs Director Beshymbiev told Con Chief there is legislation pending before the Kyrgyz and Kazakh parliaments that would allow bearers of valid Kyrgyz visas to enter Kazakhstan without obtaining a Kazakh visa. Beshymbiev announced that the Ministry had reached a resolution on the immigration status of Department of Defense contractors in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, he said that his office has also formed a working group to develop an electronic visa for Kyrgyzstan, and he asked for USG assistance to develop the technical systems for an electronic visa. Post requests that EXBS and EUR/ACE advise what assistance it can provide the Kyrgyz government in developing their desired "e-visa." Beshymbiev noted the reported complexity of CA's current systems such as CLASS and IDENT. Given our expertise and wishes to strengthen our relationship with Kyrgyzstan, post concludes that any assistance on the USG's part, whether it be advisory, technical or fiscal, would be greatly welcome. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. Visas for Contractors -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On October 10, Consular Chief met with Erik Beshymbiev, the Director of Consular Affairs for the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the immigration status of U.S. citizen contractors employed by Manas Airbase. Under the 2001 base agreement (actually an exchange of diplomatic notes between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan),U.S. personnel can enter and remain in Kyrgyzstan without a visa as long as they possessed valid Department of Defense orders and a military Common Access Card. The practical application of these rules has been unclear, as the majority of contractors live in Bishkek and not on the airbase. Encounters with Bishkek police, immigration officials at land borders and other routine government officials led to much confusion as to the legal status of contractors. Previous attempts by some contractors to obtain visas were denied. According to the Diplomatic Note Beshymbiev presented at this meeting, contractors may obtain visas if they wish, provided they follow certain basic application procedures and provide the list of required documents. Schengen-ski Zone Lite, Central Asian Style -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Beshymbiev then informed Con Chief of some potentially welcome news for U.S. citizens in Kyrgyzstan. According to Beshymbiev, there is draft legislation before the Kazakh parliament and the Kyrgyz parliament that will allow the bearers of valid Kyrgyz visas to enter Kazakhstan without any additional visas. Currently, U.S. citizens wishing to enter Kazakhstan must obtain Kazakh visas, which is often a difficult process. Post daily witnesses the incredibly long lines and late pick-up times for Kazakh visas at the nearby Kazakh Embassy. According to this draft legislation, bearers of Kyrgyz visas would be able to cross the near-by land border crossings and travel as far as Almaty. Travel to Astana and other areas of Kazakhstan would still require a visa. In addition, bearers of Kazakh visas would not require a Kyrgyz visa. Both parliaments must ratify this legislation. (Note. Quick Kyrgyz parliamentary ratification may prove difficult, in light of persistent rumors that there may be new parliamentary elections between now and the end of the year. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) This potential creation of a common border zone is immensely welcome news to post and to the resident U.S. citizen community. Post's current safe haven is Almaty, Kazakhstan. While Post's current policy is that all staff under Chief of Mission Authority must possess a valid Kazakh visa, not all members of the U.S. community do. In a time of crisis, obtaining Kazakh visas would present a stumbling block to the swift evacuation of private citizens. Additionally, it is fairly common for Amcits and others to travel frequently to and from Almaty due to the limited flight availability and other business. But Wait, There's More -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Beshymbiev then asked for assistance from the U.S. government. The Kyrgyz Consular Service has created a working group BISHKEK 00001328 002.2 OF 002 to develop an electronic visa. Currently, Kyrgyz visas are foils that are hand-written by Kyrgyz consular officers that lack any biometric identifiers. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Karabayev also raised this issue at recent meetings with USAID in Washington, DC. ¶6. (SBU) Beshymbiev envisions trying to merge together the databases of all Kyrgyz consular offices abroad, the Kyrgyz domestic Department of Consular Services, all border posts, and the Kyrgyz National Security Service. Beshymbiev explained that individuals would no longer have to travel to Kyrgyz embassies for visas, or wait in long lines upon arrival at Bishkek Airport to obtain their visa. Travelers wishing to visit Kyrgyzstan would apply on-line, pay on-line via credit card, and then travel to Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival, border guards would check the traveler's information against their database, see that the "visa" was approved, and allow the traveler entry into Kyrgyzstan. Beshymbiev stated that the working group had only recently formed but that they would appreciate any and all assistance the U.S. government could provide. YOVANOVITCH