Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK240
2007-03-07 08:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
FM KARABAYEV URGES FASTER RESOLUTION OF BASE ISSUES
how-toVZCZCXRO7995 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHEK #0240/01 0660844 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 070844Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9096 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2000 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0090 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0100 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0565 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0388 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0097 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0255 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0497 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2393 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1777 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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).
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
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