NOVROOZ: AN EXCUSE TO DRINK AND CELEBRATE SOVIET

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000335 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KG SUBJECT: NOVROOZ: AN EXCUSE TO DRINK AND CELEBRATE SOVIET BROTHERHOOD IN KYRGYZSTAN Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry and resident embassies that celebrate Novrooz invited the diplomatic community to a lengthy lunch and cultural program to celebrate spring on March 21. The words that followed were no doubt heavily influenced by the vodka, which flowed freely, but were no less heartfelt because of it. We think the following slice of diplomatic life in Bishkek provides some insight into the lingering nostalgia for Soviet times that shapes the worldviews of many officials in this part of the world. ¶2. (C) The program began as expected with short speeches by State Secretary Madumarov, Foreign Minister Karabayev, and Ambassadors from the Iranian, Kazakh, Pakistani, Tajik, Turkish, and Uzbek Embassies. Each country presented a short cultural program, and then it was lunchtime. ¶3. (C) Each Embassy had rented a yurt on the premises of a traditional restaurant, arranged by Director of the State Committee on Tourism, Turusbek Mamashov. The Turkish Ambassador whispered that Mr. Mamashov had demanded $500 per yurt, but the Kazakh Ambassador drove the price down to $300. Each yurt offered a buffet of the country's national food. The diplomatic corps was rushed in and out of each yurt so quickly, though, that hungry envoys were complaining. ¶4. (C) Then we entered the Kazakh yurt. The Kazakhs had organized a lavish sit-down dinner. Delicacies included horsemeat, a sheep's head, and camel's milk. The vodka flowed like water. Soon the Tajik Ambassador was laughing loudly and inappropriately, and the Kyrgyz dignitaries and Kazakh Ambassador began trading toasts on the importance of the upcoming Shanghai Corporation Organization summit in Bishkek and the close Soviet "brotherhood" still thriving in the region. ¶5. (C) We moved on to the Tajik yurt, where the vodka continued to flow. The Tajik ambassador offered a toast to Madumarov, noting the closeness of the Tajik-Kyrgyz relationship and how much "we love you." Madumarov responded by ignoring the Tajik and toasting the Kazakh Ambassador regarding the upcoming visit of Kazakh President Nazarbayev at the end of April and the closeness of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz relationship. He briefly noted other upcoming visits, including Tajik President Rahmanov's visit in September. ¶6. (C) Last, but not least, came the Kyrgyz table co-located in the Tajik yurt. The guests had become very relaxed by this time, and the jokes unprintable. FM Karabayev proclaimed that those present had a real nostalgia for the Soviet Union and requested the Russian Ambassador make a toast. Each Ambassador present followed, many in languages not understandable to our hosts. The Kazakh Ambassador raised a toast to the close relationship between the former Soviet countries, only to be interrupted by a very merry Tajik Ambassador, who shouted in a distinctly capitalist manner: "We love your money!" ¶7. (C) On leaving, the Indian Ambassador remarked that next time he would bring earplugs. That might fix the raucous volume of these events, but clearly there is much work ahead to reverse the strong nostalgia for the Soviet past and the attempts to recreate it. YOVANOVITCH