Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK363
2007-04-03 12:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ PROPOSE DISCUSSIONS ON AIR BASE ISSUES
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000363
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PROPOSE DISCUSSIONS ON AIR BASE ISSUES
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000363
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PROPOSE DISCUSSIONS ON AIR BASE ISSUES
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Karabayev informed the
Ambassador April 3 that the Kyrgyz government proposes to
hold discussions with the U.S. to resolve outstanding issues
connected to the operation of the Manas Air Base, including
environmental concerns and questions about leased land.
Karabayev and Minister of Defense Isakov will work out a
mechanism for the talks. Karabayev said that the discussions
would not cover compensation, but noted that the government
was looking for ways to deal with its debt burden. Karabayev
assured the Ambassador that President Bakiyev and the
government fully supported the continued operation of the
base. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Karabayev called in the
Ambassador for an urgent meeting April 3. Karabayev said
that President Bakiyev and the government faced considerable
pressure from the opposition in the current political
climate. He said that the opposition and civil society
groups were using "all sorts of issues" to attack the
president and the government. In particular, he said, the
opposition was exploiting negative perceptions about the
Manas Air Base for its own ends, leading to talk about
relocating the base from Manas airport. Karabayev said that
President Bakiyev and the Kyrgyz government understood the
strategic importance of the base and supported its continued
operations. Nevertheless, he maintained, the government had
to listen to the concerns of its citizens.
3. (C) Karabayev said that the Kyrgyz government proposes
holding meetings of a joint commission to resolve all
outstanding issues regarding the operation of the base.
Karabayev and Minister of Defense Isakov will work out the
mechanism for the talks. Karabayev cited a number of issues
to be resolved, including the September airplane collision,
environmental concerns, social concerns, the possible use of
the base for any operations directed at Iran, and questions
about leasing land. Karabayev stressed that the discussions
would not/not be about compensation for the base, but then
noted that the government was looking for ways to address its
debt burden. Karabayev noted "everyone" in the government
had understood the benefits of the Highly Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative. Unfortunately, the government
had been forced to refuse HIPC in order to restore "political
calm" in the face of strong public opposition to the
initiative. Now, absent an "economic miracle," the
government had to find alternative mechanisms to deal with
the debt.
4. (C) COMMENT: Having met with President Bakiyev the
evening before, Karabayev was clearly speaking for the
president regarding renewed base discussions, but he was also
trying to put a positive spin on the message. We also
support discussions to resolve the outstanding issues or
concerns regarding base operations, and we have previously
proposed to the MFA establishing a joint working group.
While Karabayev repeated that the discussions would not be
about compensation for the base itself, we believe that the
Kyrgyz will look for ways to "resolve" the outstanding issues
with increased fees, payments for environmental damage, and
other mechanisms. The bottom line is still money.
YOVANOVITCH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PROPOSE DISCUSSIONS ON AIR BASE ISSUES
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Karabayev informed the
Ambassador April 3 that the Kyrgyz government proposes to
hold discussions with the U.S. to resolve outstanding issues
connected to the operation of the Manas Air Base, including
environmental concerns and questions about leased land.
Karabayev and Minister of Defense Isakov will work out a
mechanism for the talks. Karabayev said that the discussions
would not cover compensation, but noted that the government
was looking for ways to deal with its debt burden. Karabayev
assured the Ambassador that President Bakiyev and the
government fully supported the continued operation of the
base. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Karabayev called in the
Ambassador for an urgent meeting April 3. Karabayev said
that President Bakiyev and the government faced considerable
pressure from the opposition in the current political
climate. He said that the opposition and civil society
groups were using "all sorts of issues" to attack the
president and the government. In particular, he said, the
opposition was exploiting negative perceptions about the
Manas Air Base for its own ends, leading to talk about
relocating the base from Manas airport. Karabayev said that
President Bakiyev and the Kyrgyz government understood the
strategic importance of the base and supported its continued
operations. Nevertheless, he maintained, the government had
to listen to the concerns of its citizens.
3. (C) Karabayev said that the Kyrgyz government proposes
holding meetings of a joint commission to resolve all
outstanding issues regarding the operation of the base.
Karabayev and Minister of Defense Isakov will work out the
mechanism for the talks. Karabayev cited a number of issues
to be resolved, including the September airplane collision,
environmental concerns, social concerns, the possible use of
the base for any operations directed at Iran, and questions
about leasing land. Karabayev stressed that the discussions
would not/not be about compensation for the base, but then
noted that the government was looking for ways to address its
debt burden. Karabayev noted "everyone" in the government
had understood the benefits of the Highly Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative. Unfortunately, the government
had been forced to refuse HIPC in order to restore "political
calm" in the face of strong public opposition to the
initiative. Now, absent an "economic miracle," the
government had to find alternative mechanisms to deal with
the debt.
4. (C) COMMENT: Having met with President Bakiyev the
evening before, Karabayev was clearly speaking for the
president regarding renewed base discussions, but he was also
trying to put a positive spin on the message. We also
support discussions to resolve the outstanding issues or
concerns regarding base operations, and we have previously
proposed to the MFA establishing a joint working group.
While Karabayev repeated that the discussions would not be
about compensation for the base itself, we believe that the
Kyrgyz will look for ways to "resolve" the outstanding issues
with increased fees, payments for environmental damage, and
other mechanisms. The bottom line is still money.
YOVANOVITCH