Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK488
2007-04-26 04:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY EVAN

Tags:  PGOV PREL KPAO KG 
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P 260452Z APR 07
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000488 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY EVAN
FEIGENBAUM,S VISIT TO BISHKEK

BISHKEK 00000488 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000488

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY EVAN
FEIGENBAUM,S VISIT TO BISHKEK

BISHKEK 00000488 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: Local media reaction to DAS Evan
Feigenbaum,s visit of April 15-20 was primarily neutral,
matter of fact reporting with some elements of general
suspicion and conspiracy theory thrown in, as is generally
the case in local media. Both print and electronic media
covered his visit. However, the limited attention of the
local media was quickly distracted by news of the violent
confrontation between demonstrators and military police on
the night of April 19, 2007. Some reporting focused on
speculation over how DAS Feigenbaum,s visit was related to
the demonstrations, and whether the visit signaled U.S.
support for the government or the opposition. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Kyrgyz media was mainly focused on opposition
demonstrations in Bishkek throughout the week of April 13-20
and reporting on DAS Feigenbaum,s visit was limited, and
largely factual. Reports by Kyrgyz news agencies and TV were
focused on the quote from DAS Feigenbaum,s April 18 press
conference that &The U.S. will not mediate between the
government and opposition,8 and several used it as their
story headline. Other reports briefly mentioned the U.S.
helicopter donation ceremony attended by DAS Feigenbaum on
April 18, his meeting with parliament speaker Murat Sultanov,
and his lecture to University students at Kyrgz National
University.


3. (SBU) There was also a limited amount of more aggressive
and speculative reporting. The online news organization
24.Kg (linked to opposition leader Kulov),known for it,s
anti-American stance made a series of short reports. All
were matter of fact except for a short news clip asking the
question, &In October 2006 (Feigenbaum) visited Kyrgyzstan
for the first time and many experts connected the visit with
the November rallies in Bishkek. His third visit also
coincides with the rallies. Is it a coincidence or not?8
AKIpress, an independent news agency, reported shortly after
DAS Feignenbaum,s press conference that: &Evan Feigenbaum
tried to avoid questions regarding the death of the truck
driver Alexander Ivanov who was shot down by an American
military serviceman on the territory of airport &Manas8.
When a journalist of the government owned newspaper Slovo
Kyrgyzstana asked the following question, During your visit
you met with representatives of civil society. Did lawyers
for the Ivanovs turn to you?, Evan Feigenbaum talked about
how the existence and functioning of the airbase in Bishkek
was critical.8 AKIpress also published a quote from an
article in a Russian independent newspaper Nezavisimaya
Gazeta from April 17, and an obvious recycling of 24.Kg,s
news article, which stated: &Every time he arrives in
Bishkek it coincides with rallies of the opposition.
Coincidence or accident? So far, experts refrain from
comments in this regard. Feigenbaum himself let us know that
Washington has nothing to do with the events in Kyrgyzstan.
Moreover, it wishes stability in the Republic. He reported
this in a meeting with parliament speaker Marat Sultanov.8


4. (SBU) Elena Avdeyeva, Editor-in-Chief of the
pro-opposition newspaper &Belyi Parohod8, asked: &Why is
the (Kyrgyz) President so afraid of early elections? He is
backed by Americans. DAS Evan Feigenbaum openly stated:
When I say that the U.S. will provide political support to
Kyrgyzstan, I don,t mean that the support will go to the
opposition., This can,t be more explicit! In the meantime
the United Front has Russian support, although it,s not
formal.8 Political analyst Ulan Kankor speculated in the
same issue of Belyi Parohod: &An ORT (Russian TV) reporter
said that President Bakiyev,s political opponents advocate
U.S. interests and, in fact, live on United State,s funds.
This reporter, a master of sensations, said that the American

BISHKEK 00000488 002.2 OF 002


Airbase, which the current President reportedly still wants
to force out of the country, was the reason for the rallies.
It,s silly, of course. But on the next day the reason why
ORT made this confession, became clear: it was DAS
Feigenbaum,s visit. Officially he came to explore new
spheres of cooperation with Bishkek, but he also met with a
number of representatives of the political elite, including
Kulov, whose activity arouses Washington,s intense interest.
It became known from unofficial sources that the American
Embassy had a number of meetings with local establishment
representatives right before the visit. The American Embassy
was probing the ground(It seems that the warnings about the
growing activity of Russians watching the developments in the
tension between Bakiyev and his opponents have finally
affected Washington, D.C.8

YOVANOVITCH