PROFILE OF NEW KYRGYZ PRIME MINISTER ALMAZ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000350

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GEHRENBECK)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KG
SUBJECT: PROFILE OF NEW KYRGYZ PRIME MINISTER ALMAZ
ATAMBAYEV

REF: BISHKEK 343

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Classified By: Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: A northern native with a background in
business, new Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almaz Atambayev is a
former parliamentarian who has previously harbored
presidential ambitions. His People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan
was an active player in the March 2005 revolution. Atambayev
worked as Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism for less
than a year, before he resigned citing disagreements with
President Bakiyev's policies and agenda. A former leader of
the Za Reformi (For Reforms) movement, he began to moderate
his opposition to the government following Prime Minister
Kulov's ouster. His calls for dialogue with the government
in mid-March culminated in his election to the prime
ministerial post March 30. End summary.

Background Facts
--------------


2. (SBU) The new 51 year-old Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almaz
Atambayev hails from the same northern village as his
predecessor, Azim Isabekov. After completing his education
at the Academy of Management in Moscow in 1980, Atambayev
held several administrative positions in Bishkek. Following
the collapse of the Soviet Union, he formed the Forum
Industrial Group, a company he heads to the present day. The
company manufactures car parts and batteries. Its 3,000
employees offer Atambayev a ready pool of supporters he can
turn out on the streets.

Political Beginnings
--------------


3. (SBU) In 1993, Atambayev founded and became the leader of
the Social Democratic Party. From 1995-2000, he sat in the
upper chamber of the Kyrgyz parliament, the People's
Representative Assembly. However, he lost a 2000
parliamentary election following a legal challenge by his
opponent. He finished third, garnering six percent of the
vote, in presidential elections later that year. In the
years preceding the March 2005 revolution, Atambayev was an
active opponent of President Askar Akayev. He was a founding
member of the People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan ) a bloc of
opposition parties formed in 2002. Fearing for his life,
Atambayev fled Kyrgyzstan for Turkey in 2002. Since his
return several months later, he has maintained an armed
escort of at least three bodyguards. In December 2004,
Atambayev's People's Congress of Kyrgyzstan joined the Forum
of Political Forces, an agglomeration of several groups
including Bakiyev's People's Movement of Kyrgyzstan, Roza
Otunbayeva's Atajurt movement, Muratbek Imanaliyev's New
Course movement and Misir Ashirkulov's Civic Alliance for
Honest Elections. These groups were key players in the March
2005 revolution.

Joining the Government
--------------


4. (SBU) Atambayev was critical in the 2005 formation of the
tandem between Bakiyev and Felix Kulov, even though it meant
abandoning his planned run for the presidency. Later, in
September 2005, he became Minister of Industry, Trade and
Tourism. He resigned in April 2006 after refusing to comply
with a presidential order requiring government officials to

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suspend or denounce their membership in political parties.
Ever outspoken, Atambayev also protested the direction of
President Bakiyev's policies, and Bakiyev's inability to
implement reforms and fight crime and corruption.

In the Opposition Again
--------------


5. (SBU) In April 2006, Atambayev became co-leader of the Za
Reformi (For Reforms ) FR) opposition movement (and led the
group jointly with former Prime Minister Tekebayev until
March 27, 2007.) During the April, May and November 2006
mass rallies, Atambayev demanded the resignation of both
Bakiyev and Kulov. Many of the rallies' participants were
members/supporters of Atambayev's Social Democratic Party
and/or his employees. In November 2006, Atambayev expected
Kulov to join the opposition demonstrators and was bitterly
disappointed when Kulov instead supported President Bakiyev.
Following Kulov's resignation and the formation of the
Kulov-led United Front (UF),Atambayev's views moderated. He
publicly disagreed with the UF's call for Bakiyev's
resignation, and remained highly critical of Kulov. (Note:
After Kulov joined the opposition, he became a competitor for
leadership of the opposition. End note.)


6. (SBU) In February, after Kulov formed the United Front,
Atambayev told the Charge of his deep distrust of Kulov, who
he believed was motivated solely by ambition for power. He,
Atambayev, wanted constitutional and other reforms, and was
prepared to work with Bakiyev if he would support reforms.
He did not rule out aligning with Kulov if Bakiyev proved
intractable, but this was not his preferred option. He said
he had contacts "on both sides" and could play a mediating
role. Starting in mid-March, Atambayev began calling
publicly for dialogue with the government. In a recent
meeting with the Ambassador (reftel) he outlined three
conditions for joining a Bakiyev cabinet as PM. He
subsequently met Bakiyev March 21, and the President has
since met all three conditions. Atambayev was named Acting
PM on March 29, following former PM Isabekov's resignation.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Atambayev has enjoyed excellent relations with the
Embassy over a number of years. If President Bakiyev allows
him to do his job, he will be a huge improvement over his
predecessor. However, beyond the considerable substantive
challenges of the job (septel),observers of the political
scene are already wondering how long the volatile Atambayev
will be able to work with President Bakiyev before he quits
in a huff. In addition, Atambayev has told us he has ulcers,
and he is often in the hospital for extended periods. Today,
Kyrgyz Ambassador to the United States Zamira Sydykova told
us that Atambayev had suffered two heart attacks, making it
difficult for him to work a full day.

YOVANOVITCH