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

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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

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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