FM KARABAYEV URGES FASTER RESOLUTION OF BASE ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000240 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECON ETRD PHUM KG SUBJECT: FM KARABAYEV URGES FASTER RESOLUTION OF BASE ISSUES REF: A. BISHKEK 229 ¶B. BISHKEK 227 ¶C. 06 BISHKEK 1407 ¶D. 06 BISHKEK 1722 BISHKEK 00000240 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During a March 5 meeting with Ambassador, Foreign Minister Karabayev urged the U.S. to move forward to solve base issues, such as the December shooting incident and the September collision. Karabayev seemed interested in assisting the U.S. in countering the negative publicity and improving its standing in the eyes of the Kyrgyz people. End Summary. NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON BASE ISSUES -------------- ¶2. (C) On the margins of a March 5 briefing by Ambassador regarding U.S. assistance programs in Kyrgyzstan (septel), Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev reiterated his desire to strengthen relations between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan (Ref B), but warned that a number of issues could undercut the many positive steps forward. He noted that issues, such as the shooting incident and airplane collision, should have been overcome long ago, but that they continue to be dragged out. He suggested the U.S. step up its public relations efforts to promote positive steps forward on these issues and combat the "black PR" currently building negative public opinion. Karabayev believed that working closely with the local press and sharing information regarding our progress on bilateral issues, as well as the accomplishments of U.S. assistance implementers, could prove effective in redirecting public attention away from the U.S. military presence. TACKLE THE BASE PROBLEMS ONE AT A TIME -------------- ¶3. (C) Ambassador asked the Foreign Minister to clarify PM Isabekov's March 2 comments regarding re-examining the base agreement (Ref A). Karabayev said he was not sure what the PM meant, but said that the U.S. and Kyrgyz governments should sit down to resolve the various problems surrounding the base. He felt that prompt decision-making could resolve the issues and reduce the public pressure -- a key factor, he cautioned, in provoking President Bakiyev's involvement. Karabayev advocated addressing the base issues on a case-by-case basis, focusing on the easiest first. Karabayev warned that further delay would continue to build negative opinions of the U.S. government by Kyrgyz citizens, citing the slow response by American investigators into the case of the September collision between a Kyrgyz passenger airliner and a U.S. Air Force KC-135 (Ref C). He was pleased to be briefed on the claims process established by CENTAF. He suspected the Russian government of using the situation to its advantage recently by donating a civilian passenger plane to the Kyrgyz government, noting that the Russians looked "very good in the eye of the public." "The public perception," he commented, "is that the U.S. damaged a Kyrgyz plane and blamed the Kyrgyz. Russia, on the other hand, generously donates a plane, no strings attached." COMPENSATION TO IVANOV FAMILY A GOOD FIRST STEP -------------- -- ¶4. (C) Regarding the base shooting incident in December (Ref D),Karabayev recommended swift compensation to the Ivanov family, saying that actions should be taken promptly if the U.S. has the political will to resolve the issue. He noted BISHKEK 00000240 002.2 OF 002 that the Ivanov family was "waging a campaign" in the news demanding compensation, and that she is "winning the media war" against the U.S. government. Ambassador reassured Karabayev that the U.S. was committed to a just resolution of the issue and informed the minister that base officials will be providing an interim payment to the Ivanov family while the U.S. continues to process the widow's claim for compensation. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Karabayev seemed interested in resolving base issues, and he suggested ways the U.S. could improve its image among the Kyrgyz population. Karabayev expressed his desire to assist the U.S. in countering negative news coverage. Karabayev's positive comments mark a refreshing change from his predecessor, and we will look to see if his good words are followed by constructive actions. LITZENBERGER