BIO OF NEW KYRGYZ FM KARABAYEV

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000154 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG SUBJECT: BIO OF NEW KYRGYZ FM KARABAYEV REF: A. BISHKEK 140 ¶B. BISHKEK 102 BISHKEK 00000154 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Ednan Oskonovich Karabayev, Kyrgyzstan's new Foreign Minister, was appointed February 8 after spending thirteen years at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University as Vice Rector. No stranger to the MFA, FM Karabayev held the same position from 1992-1994, under former President Askar Akayev. Prior to his first FM appointment, Karabayev served as State Secretary in 1992; the President's Chief of Staff, from SIPDIS 1990-1992; Komsomol (Communist Youth) and Communist Party Functionary, successively, from 1981-1990; and worked as a secondary school teacher, from 1975-1981. During that time, Karabayev was also involved in post graduate studies in history at the Kyrgyz National University. He eventually received a Ph.D. in the same field. ¶2. (SBU) FM Karabayev holds the rank of Ambassador, and is the founder and current leader of the "Sanjira" political party -- a pro-government party, thought to receive funding from Moscow, which also serves as a think-tank for the government. He is married and has a son, Timur Karabayev, who works as a staffer at the Defense and Security Department within the Presidential Administration. Timur is also a member of the Millennium Challenge Account Working Group. FM Karabayev also has a twenty-eight-year-old daughter, Madina, who graduated from Slavic University in 2000. FM Karabayev has visited the U.S. once, in 1996, as part of a Marshall Center field trip. KARABAYEV ON EXTERNAL RELATIONS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In an interview conducted before his appointment, published February 9 in pro-Bakiyev newspaper "Moya Stolitsa Novisti" (MSN),FM Karabayev criticized Kyrgystan's current foreign policy, stating that a new, multi-vectored, policy should be formed that takes the country's interests into consideration. He also said that Kyrgyzstan should reduce its dependency on others, and that the government should focus its attention on relations with its Central Asian neighbors, as well as Europe. No mention of the U.S. was made during the interview. Stating that Kyrgyzstan "should be friends with everyone," FM Karabayev added that the country would need to prioritize its external relations first. �A;A STRAIGHT-SHOOTER? -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The new FM has been called a learned man who shoots straight from the hip. His former colleagues at Slavic University hold him in high esteem, noting that Karabayev never displayed corrupt behavior, nor was involved in any bribery-related issues -- a rare phenomenon amongst faculty members at most institutions of higher education in Kyrgyzstan. CONTROVERSY ALREADY? -------------- ¶5. (C) Kyrgyz Ombudsman Tursunbai Bakir uulu reportedly is asking President Bakiyev to dismiss Karabayev because of a possible negative impact on relations with Arab and other Islamic countries. Bakir uulu told the press that Karabayev's efforts in 1993 to open a Kyrgyz embassy in Israel had damaged Kyrgyz relations with the Arab world. (Comment: We understand that Karabayev was fired rather quickly from his previous service as FM when, following a trip to Israel, his announcement that Kyrgyzstan would open an embassy there produced outrage in the Muslim community, BISHKEK 00000154 002.2 OF 002 although some have suggested he was made the scapegoat in the controversy. End Comment.) A VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITION -------------- ¶6. (SBU) At least one opposition figure offered a positive assessment of the appointment. Edil Baisalov told reporters February 9 that Karabayev's appointment could "restore constructive relations with the West." Baisalov added that former FM Jekshenkulov's removal could be a sign that President Bakiyev is intent on initiating productive relations with the U.S. and EU. Referring to the expulsion of two U.S. diplomats in 2006, Baisalov said that it is necessary for the MFA to re-establish mutual relations with the U.S. In response to Baisalov's remarks, a number of web-logs (or "blogs") have called Baisalov a "mouthpiece of the West," implying that his views have been shaped by his perceived close relations with Washington. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) We remain cautiously optimistic regarding Karabayev's appointment. During his thirteen relatively quiet years at Slavic University, he has not expressed strong views on the U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship . We expect, however, that his position will reveal itself soon, as he is rumored to be an active public servant -- Deputy Foreign Minister Sarbayev told CDA earlier February 9 that Karabayev came to work almost immediately after receiving his appointment late February 8. And it is certainly a relief to bid adieu to Jekshenkulov, who was as anti-U.S. as he was pro-Russian. Rumors are that his next posting may be as Ambassador to Brussels or Moscow. LITZENBERGER