KYRGYZ FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES "PILLARS OF FOCUS"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000239

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES "PILLARS OF FOCUS"

REF: A. BISHKEK 222

B. BISHKEK 194

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Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador briefed new Foreign Minister
Karabayev March 5 on the range of interagency U.S. assistance
programs in Kyrgyzstan. Karabayev said he thought U.S.
assistance was "in tune" with Kyrgyzstan's priorities, and he
expressed interest in increased collaboration. Karabayev
then revealed President Bakiyev's three "pillars of focus"
for the Kyrgyz government: political stability, rule of law,
and improved conditions for the middle class. He outlined an
extensive and varied list of MFA priorities and programs to
carry out the president's goals and said he thought many of
his ideas corresponded with U.S. assistance objectives.
Karabayev urged the U.S. to expand its public relations
efforts and highlight U.S. assistance programs to counter
negative publicity associated with the Manas Air Base.
(Issues related to the base reported septel.) End Summary.

CLOSER COOPERATION ON ASSISTANCE
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2. (C) Ambassador briefed new Foreign Minister Ednan
Karabayev March 5 on U.S. assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic,
highlighting the main sectors of economic growth, health and
education, good governance, security, and humanitarian
assistance. Karabayev expressed his appreciation for the
briefing and noted that U.S. assistance was "in tune" with
Kyrgyzstan's priorities. Ambassador stressed the need to
resolve certain issues affecting assistance implementers,
such as Social Fund requirements and accreditation
difficulties (Ref A). Karabayev promised to address
Ambassador's concerns through an upcoming meeting with
representatives of foreign NGOs to review all issues and
provide a public response. He asserted his commitment to
assisting the NGOs, remarking that they play a significant
role in Kyrgyz society. He also agreed with Ambassador that
the MFA should be the main Kyrgyz government point of contact
for international NGOs.

"THREE PILLARS" AND THE FM'S PRIORITIES
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3. (C) Karabayev said that President Bakiyev wanted to direct
government efforts toward three "pillars of focus":
political stability, rule of law, and improving conditions
for the middle class. Karabayev then outlined a number of
MFA priorities and programs he envisioned to carry out the
president's goals and expressed the hope the USG could help
implement some of them:

--Improved government training and communication. Karabayev
said that all government ministries needed to be reformed,
with a goal of better communication between the different
agencies and ministries. The MFA and other ministries needed
stronger press offices, and the press offices, in turn,
should strive to share more information about government
activities. Greater transparency would build public support.


--New mechanisms to deal with external debt. Karabayev
claimed that President Bakiyev privately appreciated the
"patience and assistance" provided to the Kyrgyz government
regarding the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt
initiative. Karabayev said that everyone in the government
understood the benefits of HIPC, but because the debate
became extremely politicized, the government was forced to

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reject it (Ref B). Karabayev requested Ambassador's
assistance in finding other mechanisms, including possibly
through the IMF and World Bank, to deal with Kyrgyzstan's
debt.

--Better coordination between the MFA, Kyrgyz embassies
abroad, and foreign missions in Bishkek. Karabayev said that
his overseas missions addressed too many issues, were not
sufficiently focused, and, therefore, achieved little.
Karabayev suggested establishing working groups to develop
bilateral "focal points," and that specific projects should
be within the realm of possibility. Karabayev said, for
example, that the U.S. and Kyrgyz governments should work as
a "tandem" to develop a plan to achieve short and long term
goals for the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington and the U.S.
Embassy in Bishkek.

--Capitalizing on WTO membership. The Kyrgyz government was
uneducated about the potential benefits of WTO membership
and, therefore, unable to capitalize on the advantages.
Karabayev suggested that Kyrgyzstan could use the advice of
U.S. experts to improve ecological and quality standards of
agricultural products, with the goal of exporting them to
European nations.

--Preventing conflict through enclaves research. The Kyrgyz
government must conduct extensive research into enclaves,
areas prone to political and social unrest, in order to
mitigate conflict. The research would allow for timely
prediction and prevention of possible flare-ups. Karabayev
suggested that the government draw on the expertise of other
nations successful in dealing with their own enclaves.

--Rehabilitation of middle schools. Although higher
education facilities were doing well, Kyrgyzstan's middle
schools were falling apart and in desperate need of upgrades.
Optimally, Kyrgyzstan needed to build new schools, equip
them with computers, and hook them up to the internet.
Vocational schools also deserved attention, as the country
was in need of specialists, such as electricians and
plumbers.

--Disposal of Bishkek's garbage. Bishkek needed to develop a
garbage disposal facility to deal with the growing problem of
refuse in the city. Kyrgyzstan must look for options to
dispose of the waste in an environmentally safe manner.

--Oblast sponsor program. Taking an idea previously proposed
by Roza Otunbayeva, Karabayev suggested the possibility of
foreign missions in Bishkek "sponsoring" one or more of the
seven oblasts in Kyrgyzstan, with a focus on humanitarian
assistance.

--Environmental Program around Manas Air Base. Karabayev
suggested the U.S. launch an environmental program to clean
up the area around the base to produce good will.

--Local self-government. Provide a roadmap for a "complete
administrative reform," including how the Executive branch
relates to the other branches and how the regions interact
with the center.

COMMENT
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4. (C) The atmosphere during this meeting was completely
different from Ambassador's introductory call on FM
Karabayev. In this meeting, Karabayev was informal, engaged,
and informed; his demeanor was downright jolly. He

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repeatedly expressed a desire to increase collaboration with
the U.S. and offered guidance to counter the negative
publicity that continues to shape the opinions of the Kyrgyz
people. For someone talking repeatedly about the need to
establish "focus," Karabayev was at times a bit scattershot
in his approach to projects. Nevertheless, many of his ideas
to promote transparency, good governance, economic growth,
and improved education run parallel to U.S. assistance
programs already in place. If he backs his words with
action, Karabayev may prove an ally on many development goals.
LITZENBERGER