KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT CONFIRMS NEW PRIME MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000087 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT CONFIRMS NEW PRIME MINISTER REF: A. BISHKEK 80 ¶B. BISHKEK 79 Classified By: Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Following a two hour confirmation hearing on January 29, Parliament confirmed former Agriculture Minister Azim Isabekov as Prime Minister by a vote of 57 to 4. Isabekov will officially take office once his confirmation has been approved by President Bakiyev, which should happen immediately. Former Prime Minister Felix Kulov may hold a press conference within the next few days to discuss Isabekov's confirmation as well as his future plans. ¶2. (U) During his confirmation hearing, Isabekov said he would submit to parliament on January 30 a proposed restructuring of the government, and that there would be changes in the cabinet. ¶3. (C) Comment: Under the transition provisions of the new constitution, cabinet ministers will not be approved by the parliament. Possible cabinet changes include Foreign Minister Alikbek Jekshenkulov, who is said to be interested in becoming ambassador to Moscow, and Finance Minister Akylbek Japarov, who, following the ouster of Kulov, remains the government's strongest proponent of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Evidence that Japarov's days may be numbered came January 27 during a large government meeting with the business community, attended by many government officials including President Bakiyev. After Japarov spoke in favor of HIPC, First Vice Prime Minister Usenov told the crowd that Japarov "was not speaking for the government." ¶4. (C) Comment continued: The ouster of Kulov and confirmation of Isabekov raises questions about a number of other equities, as well. In addition to HIPC, many other issues were associated with Kulov. For example, AES negotiated its MOU directly with Prime Minister Kulov, in the face of strong opposition from Usenov. Additionally, the REMAP program does not have a clear political champion in the government; its support is at the technical level. We will seek to engage Isabekov at the earliest opportunity to try to gain his support for these and other equities. YOVANOVITCH