DELIVERY OF NIE ON IRAN TO KYRGYZ OFFICIALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 001485 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: MNUC KNNP PARM PREL IR KG SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF NIE ON IRAN TO KYRGYZ OFFICIALS REF: A. STATE 165967 ¶B. STATE 163956 ¶C. STATE 162558 Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a meeting with Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev on December 13, Ambassador delivered two non-papers regarding the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear program (ref C). During discussions of key points, FM Karabayev stated that the ministry "publicly and privately directed Iran to comply with UNSC resolutions." Karabayev also emphasized the need for Iran to maintain a dialogue with the IAEA. Karabayev expressed concern that military actions against Iran would have political, economic, and religious consequences in the region, which could spill into Central Asia. Ambassador and Karabayev agreed that political dialogue was vital to peace in the region. ¶2. (C) On December 4, Charge delivered same NIE non-papers to Islan Ryskulov, head of the Foreign Policy Department at the Presidency. Charge addressed key points of non-papers, including the assessment that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 but that the program could be renewed, and thus continued international pressure on Iran was needed. Ryskulov stated that he read about the key points in the media and understood the importance of the findings. YOVANOVITCH