Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BISHKEK87
2007-01-29 13:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT CONFIRMS NEW PRIME MINISTER

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1247
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHEK #0087 0291303
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291303Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8880
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1925
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0035
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0048
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0513
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0327
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0045
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0201
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2336
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1721
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP PRIORITY
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)

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