MFA LAYS NEXT STEPS ON SHOOTING INCIDENT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000340

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KG
SUBJECT: MFA LAYS NEXT STEPS ON SHOOTING INCIDENT AND
BROADER BASE-KYRGYZ RELATIONS

REF: A. STATE 38071


B. 280323Z MAR 07 - USDAO IIR 6 955 2038 07

C. 201610Z MAR 07 - USDAO IIR 6 955 2032 07

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Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (C) SUMMARY. On March 27, Ambassador delivered ref A
diplomatic note denying Kyrgyz request to extradite Airman
Hatfield in connection with the December 6 shooting incident
at Manas Air Base. First Deputy Foreign Minister Kydyrev was
expecting this response and laid out his views on next steps
in managing the issue. He also said that it would be
important to create a legal basis for Kyrgyz relations with
the base that are "more suitable and take into account the
interests of both sides." Kydyrev said that perhaps this
would not mean re-opening the agreement, but "major steps"
would need to be taken and said he would be following up with
the Ambassador. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On March 27, Ambassador delivered ref A diplomatic
note denying Kyrgyz request to extradite Airman Hatfield in
connection with the December 6 shooting incident at Manas Air
Base. First Deputy Foreign Minister Kydyrev was expecting
this response and thanked the Ambassador. Ambassador asked
how Kydyrev sees next steps in managing the issue. He said
his views had not changed since the previous meeting on March
20 (Ref B). First, the U.S. needed to provide the pistol to
the Kyrgyz, and the Kyrgyz needed to share the evidence which
the U.S. wants to test. Second, the U.S. needed to finish
its investigation as quickly as possible, so that both sides
could exchange information. Third, the two sides should
agree on a memorandum, that the U.S., taking into account the
information from the Kyrgyz investigation, would act in
accordance with U.S. law to ensure justice is done.


3. (C) Kydyrev continued that if the U.S. does not find the
airman criminally liable, then some form of administrative
punishment should be administered. It would be important, he
continued, to inform the Kyrgyz public that steps had been
taken to punish the airman. The Ambassador replied that the
U.S. investigation is ongoing and she cannot prejudge the
outcome, but that if it was determined that the airman had
acted properly, there would not be either a criminal or an
administrative punishment. She noted that both the Kyrgyz
and the U.S. sides had remarked on March 20, that it was very
possible that we could agree on the facts, but come to
different conclusions due our different laws and practices.
She added it is important to come to agreement on a way
forward, so that relations are not disrupted by a crisis.


4. (C) Turning to the Base more generally, Kydyrev said
that the previous day in a meeting with Kyrgyz ambassadors,
President Bakiyev had reaffirmed the need to develop good
relations with the U.S. and to support the U.S. security and
anti-terrorist endeavors. Kydyrev said the President
supports the continued presence of the Base in Kyrgyzstan,
but that he also said, taking into account the incidents in
the fall, certain steps needed to be taken. Kydyrev noted
the pressure the GOKG is under from NGOs and parliamentarians
to cancel the Base agreement, or at least negotiate better
terms. Kydyrev said it would be important to create a legal
basis for Kyrgyz relations with the base that are "more
suitable and take into account the interests of both sides."
Kydyrev said that perhaps this would not mean re-opening the
agreement, but "major steps" would need to be taken. He
suggested that a possible solution would be a separate
protocol regulating future incidents. Kydyrev also said
that the U.S. could come up with a way forward and said that

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he would call the Ambassador to discuss this issue in a week.


5. (C) Ambassador responded that the Embassy follows the
parliament very closely and that often the parliamentarians
that complain the loudest about the Base are not independent
political actors, but are doing the bidding of individuals or
interests in the government. She reminded Kydyrev that the
U.S. and Kyrgyzstan had just negotiated an agreement in the
summer of 2006; she predicted that there would be no
enthusiasm for new negotiations so soon. Moreover, she said
that it was not entirely clear what issues the Kyrgyz side
wanted resolved. Ambassador said she was always available to
discuss this and any other issue and hoped that Kydyrev would
be frank and specific in the next meeting. Kydyrev did not
respond directly, but said that the new Foreign Minister was
favorably disposed to the Base and that now the MFA would
have a positive position on the Base. That said, he said it
would be important to show U.S.-Kygyz relations in a
positive, mutually advantageous light.


6. (C) COMMENT: It is troubling that after repeated
conversations, the Deputy Foreign Minister and the Deputy
Defense Minister (ref C) continue to advocate that the airman
be punished even if the U.S. side determines that there was
no wrong-doing on his part. The shooting incident will
remain a sensitive bilateral issue until it is resolved, and
even then, it will likely be a point of contention, if the
U.S. finds that the airman acted properly. While not a
surprise, it is even more troubling that we will likely soon
receive an official request to review the status of the base
in some form. As it becomes clearer what the GOKG has in
mind, Post will be in a better position to provide
recommendations. We note that this request will likely
coincide with our own notification that we intend to extend
the July 2006 Protocol. END COMMENT.
YOVANOVITCH