Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK670
2007-06-04 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

KYRGYZ PROTEST AGAINST BASE, AS LAWMAKERS SEEK

Tags:  PGOV PREL KG 
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RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000670 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PROTEST AGAINST BASE, AS LAWMAKERS SEEK
EMBASSY SUPPORT

REF: A. BISHKEK 665

B. BISHKEK 632

C. BISHKEK 614

BISHKEK 00000670 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000670

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PROTEST AGAINST BASE, AS LAWMAKERS SEEK
EMBASSY SUPPORT

REF: A. BISHKEK 665

B. BISHKEK 632

C. BISHKEK 614

BISHKEK 00000670 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see
paragraph 8.


2. (C) SUMMARY: On June 2, 35-40 demonstrators gathered in
front of the Embassy to protest Manas Airbase's continued
presence in Kyrgyzstan. Led by the "Movement for the
Withdrawal of the U.S. Air Force Base," the demonstrators
called for the immediate removal of the base and promised to
gather 300,000 signatures to initiate a public referendum on
he base. On June 1, the Ambassador met separately with MPs
Iskhak Masaliyev and Melis Eshimkanov to discuss the base.
Masaliyev said he continued to oppose the base "on
principle," but doubted there were enough votes in parliament
to adopt his suggestion that the base agreement be cancelled.
He said parliamentarians would be reluctant to forgo the
lucrative contracts associated with the base or to go against
other Coalition members. Eshimkanov, who now supports the
base, asked for additional points to use in any subsequent
parliamentary hearings on the base. We believe that it would
be useful if Coalition partners could help impress upon the
Kyrgyz the shared concerns about security in Afghanistan and
the continuing need to maintain the base. In addition,
helping the Kyrgyz compete for contracts in Afghanistan
through a contracting seminar would also boost support for
the base. END SUMMARY.

BASE PROTEST: CALM, BUT DETERMINED
--------------


3. (SBU) On Saturday, June 2, 35-40 demonstrators gathered
for about an hour in front of the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek to
call for the Manas Airbase's immediate removal. Organized by
the "Movement for the Withdrawal of the U.S Air Force Base,"
the pro-government Liberal Progressive Party, the Communist
Party of Kyrgyzstan, and the Party of Communists of
Kyrgyzstan, the protestors chanted "Yankee go home," held
banners that read "No to the Airbase," and listed their
base-related demands. In addition to calling for the base's
removal, the protestors demanded the extradition of Airman

Hatfield, an environmental survey of the area surrounding the
base, an investigation into all other base-related incidents,
and revision of the agreement to remove all immunities
currently afforded to military personnel at Manas. The head
of the "Movement," Alexander Tiperov, promised to gather
300,000 signatures to initiate a public referendum on the
base's continued presence.

MP MASALIYEV: PRINCIPLES AFFECTING POSITION
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador met with pro-government MP Iskhak
Masaliyev June 1 to discuss his position on the base, and to
confirm his participation in a USG-sponsored trip to
Afghanistan June 13-14 (ref A). Masaliyev, who spoke out
against the base during parliamentary committee hearing on
May 23 (ref C),thought that additional hearings on the base
were likely, but would probably have to wait until Parliament
reconvenes in the fall, due to the heavy workload until
parliament recesses at the end of June. He said that it was
unlikely that his suggestions that the base agreement be
cancelled would be accepted by the parliamentarians. He
cited lucrative contracts, the coalition nature of the base,

BISHKEK 00000670 002.2 OF 003


as well as Russia's recent SOFA agreement with NATO as
reasons the deputies would, in the end, support the base.
Masaliyev said he had counted up the votes, and there were
not enough for his view to prevail.


5. (C) Masaliyev, the head of the Party of Communists of
Kyrgyzstan, said that his opposition to the base was
determined by his responsibilities to his party and his
constituents. He said his party believed that the base was
not beneficial for Kyrgyzstan, despite the economic
advantages. He said he understood the base's economic and
political worth to Kyrgyzstan, but the series of base-related
incidents, including Alexander Ivanov's death, (unspecified)
road accidents, and ecological concerns, had fueled
conservative opinion against the base. He welcomed the
chance to join other Kyrgyz officials on a trip to
Afghanistan to get a first-hand view of the security
situation, and he backed the suggestion that the Ambassador
speak with members of Masaliyev's party to address their
concerns about the base. He noted that the Kyrgyz White
House has been relatively silent on this issue, as has
Russia, implying that such silence made it harder for him to
speak out in support of the base.

MP ESHIMKANOV: HELP ME HELP YOU
--------------


6. (C) In a separate meeting June 1, MP Melis Eshimkanov, who
had just accepted an appointment as Kyrgyz Ambassador to
Switzerland, told the Ambassador 1 that he understood the
base was important to Kyrgyzstan's security and economy.
Contrary to MP Masaliyev's earlier prediction, Eshimkanov
believed base hearings could resume in parliament as early as
June 4 or 5. (Comment: We believe this is highly unlikely.
End Comment.) Presenting himself as pro-American and
pro-base, the mercurial Eshimkanov asked for additional
talking points to use in subsequent parliamentary hearings on
the base. The Ambassador said that she is always available
to field any questions he may have about the base.
Eshimkanov said that he relayed these views to President
Bakiyev, who agreed that the base serves Kyrgyzstan's
interests. Eshimkanov claimed he told Bakiyev that if Manas
Airbase goes, Russia's base in Kant would also need to go --
to which he said Bakiyev agreed. Eshimkanov said Bakiyev
blessed Eshimkanov's initiative to defend the base.
(Comment: We believe that it is likely that the
ever-opportunistic Eshimkanov was probably told to defend the
base now that he is on the President's team. End Comment.)

COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) The anti-base protest June 2 at the embassy concluded
without incident. The event drew only 35-40 supporters, but
the organizers have vowed to stage additional demonstrations,
including at the Manas Air Base June 4 when Defense Secretary
Gates will be in town. It seems that Chief of Staff Medet
Sadyrkulov's "pep talk" to key actors in government and
parliament, following the May 23 parliamentary committee
session (ref B),may be paying dividends, as Masaliyev, who
has consistently opposed the base, appeared to be softening
his position. Likewise, Eshimkanov, who had been extremely
critical of Base and American handling of the Metzger case,
the collision, and the shooting incident, has all of a sudden
become our staunch defender. We believe that the June 13-14
trip to Afghanistan for Kyrgyz officials and additional tours
of the base for all parliamentarians at the end of June will
help impress upon the Kyrgyz the shared concerns about

BISHKEK 00000670 003.2 OF 003


security in Afghanistan and the continuing need to maintain
the base. END COMMENT.


8. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post seeks Department's assistance in
persuading Coalition partner to engage with the Kyrgyz to
make the case about the shared interests in security and
stability in Afghanistan and the continuing need to maintain
Manas Air Base. Post also seeks the Department's assistance
in arranging for USG contracting specialists to come to
conduct a seminar for Kyrgyz businesses to help them to
compete for contracts in Afghanistan. Both actions would
help boost support for the base.
YOVANOVITCH