Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RUSSELS1548
2007-05-10 05:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
BOUCHER DISCUSSES CENTRAL ASIA WITH EU
how-toVZCZCXRO0792 RR RUEHDBU DE RUEHBS #1548/03 1300517 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 100517Z MAY 07 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC INFO RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 04 RUSSELS 001548
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZK
SUBJECT: BOUCHER DISCUSSES CENTRAL ASIA WITH EU
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BRUSSELS 05101548 003 OF 004
would require careful political management. Interlocutors
also told Boucher that while Kazakhstan welcomes Chinese
investment, it is wary of Chinese immigration as a result.
Kyrgyz Republic: Deteriorating political situation and
creeping "Islamization" worry EU
-------------- --------------
13. (C) Lucas and Morel expressed concern that if the
political situation continues to deteriorate in Kyrgyzstan,
others in the region may draw the conclusion that the closer
a country moves toward democracy, the more unstable it
becomes. Morel told Boucher he met with President Kurmanbek
Bakiyev in mid-March, and that Bakiyev seemed fairly pleased
with himself for having outplayed the opposition. Morel
sensed that there was a credible growing opposition movement
led by former Prime Minister Kulov, but that Kulov was more
interested in overruling Bakiyev than he was in leading the
charge for constitutional change. Pushing Kulov forward,
Morel said, is former Interior Minister Omurbek Suvanaliyev.
According to Morel, Suvanaliyev recently claimed he could
influence 40 percent of the country's secret police forces.
Morel expressed concern that Suvanaliyev and Kulov have
strong ties to Moscow and had made several secret trips.
Morel said the opposition was dismissing Bakiyev's
appointment of opposition leader Almaz Atambayev to the role
of Prime Minister as a "pawn." Boucher stressed the need for
a coordinated message pressing Kyrgyzstan to settle down (not
exploiting the current uncertainty for short term gain),to
revise the constitution, and to move on.
14. (C) Although the Parliament is largely outdated, Morel
conceded that at least there is one in place. Morel
expressed deep concern over the "creeping Islamization
through social pressure," noting that women were being paid
to wear the hijab and citing the recently proposed
legislation legalizing polygamy. Bakiyev joked about the
proposed legislation, but did nothing to block it. The
legislation was later blocked by the Parliament.
15. (C) On assistance, Maldonado told Boucher there would
be an 80 percent increase in assistance, totaling 40 million
euros a year. Commission assistance will focus on rural
development, the social sector, energy, and political
infrastructure and transparency. Boucher briefed EU
interlocutors on our progress preparing a Millennium
Challenge Account threshold program for the country.
16. (C) On hydro power, EU interlocutors shared Boucher's
assessment that the Kyrgyz do not have a plan and expressed
doubt that the project might become a "white elephant."
Boucher stressed the need for the Kyrgyz to reform the energy
sector first.
Tajikistan: Cautiously optimistic
--------------
17. (C) EU interlocutors generally shared Boucher's
assessment and were cautiously optimistic about Tajikistan,
but agreed that issues of democratic reform and corruption
continue to plague the country. Lucas relayed that the
Tajiks are nervous about political idealization from
Afghanistan. Lucas also expressed concern over drug
trafficking. Lucas said that border control and drug
trafficking would be "stepped up" in the new EU strategic
framework, with an emphasis on better coordination with all
regional players, including Russia. Maldonado told Boucher
there would be a $14-15 million euro increase in the regional
border management program.
18. (C) The Commission told Boucher it would spend 17
million euros per year on rural development, agriculture,
land reform, and public finance management (linked with an
anti-corruption campaign) during the next programming period.
Two Commission programs were closed, however, due to
corruption.
19. (C) Lucas agreed with Boucher that the lack of
democratic reform continues to be a problem. EU
interlocutors stressed the need to make clear to the Tajiks
that the OSCE must be allowed to do its job, and said the
litmus test for democratic reform would be the state of
non-governmental organizations. Nonetheless, Lucas said that
Tajikistan seems to be moving in the right direction and
appears to maintain a lively civil society.
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* Missing Section 004 *
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SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZK
SUBJECT: BOUCHER DISCUSSES CENTRAL ASIA WITH EU
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
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***********************
* Missing Section 002 *
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BRUSSELS 05101548 003 OF 004
would require careful political management. Interlocutors
also told Boucher that while Kazakhstan welcomes Chinese
investment, it is wary of Chinese immigration as a result.
Kyrgyz Republic: Deteriorating political situation and
creeping "Islamization" worry EU
-------------- --------------
13. (C) Lucas and Morel expressed concern that if the
political situation continues to deteriorate in Kyrgyzstan,
others in the region may draw the conclusion that the closer
a country moves toward democracy, the more unstable it
becomes. Morel told Boucher he met with President Kurmanbek
Bakiyev in mid-March, and that Bakiyev seemed fairly pleased
with himself for having outplayed the opposition. Morel
sensed that there was a credible growing opposition movement
led by former Prime Minister Kulov, but that Kulov was more
interested in overruling Bakiyev than he was in leading the
charge for constitutional change. Pushing Kulov forward,
Morel said, is former Interior Minister Omurbek Suvanaliyev.
According to Morel, Suvanaliyev recently claimed he could
influence 40 percent of the country's secret police forces.
Morel expressed concern that Suvanaliyev and Kulov have
strong ties to Moscow and had made several secret trips.
Morel said the opposition was dismissing Bakiyev's
appointment of opposition leader Almaz Atambayev to the role
of Prime Minister as a "pawn." Boucher stressed the need for
a coordinated message pressing Kyrgyzstan to settle down (not
exploiting the current uncertainty for short term gain),to
revise the constitution, and to move on.
14. (C) Although the Parliament is largely outdated, Morel
conceded that at least there is one in place. Morel
expressed deep concern over the "creeping Islamization
through social pressure," noting that women were being paid
to wear the hijab and citing the recently proposed
legislation legalizing polygamy. Bakiyev joked about the
proposed legislation, but did nothing to block it. The
legislation was later blocked by the Parliament.
15. (C) On assistance, Maldonado told Boucher there would
be an 80 percent increase in assistance, totaling 40 million
euros a year. Commission assistance will focus on rural
development, the social sector, energy, and political
infrastructure and transparency. Boucher briefed EU
interlocutors on our progress preparing a Millennium
Challenge Account threshold program for the country.
16. (C) On hydro power, EU interlocutors shared Boucher's
assessment that the Kyrgyz do not have a plan and expressed
doubt that the project might become a "white elephant."
Boucher stressed the need for the Kyrgyz to reform the energy
sector first.
Tajikistan: Cautiously optimistic
--------------
17. (C) EU interlocutors generally shared Boucher's
assessment and were cautiously optimistic about Tajikistan,
but agreed that issues of democratic reform and corruption
continue to plague the country. Lucas relayed that the
Tajiks are nervous about political idealization from
Afghanistan. Lucas also expressed concern over drug
trafficking. Lucas said that border control and drug
trafficking would be "stepped up" in the new EU strategic
framework, with an emphasis on better coordination with all
regional players, including Russia. Maldonado told Boucher
there would be a $14-15 million euro increase in the regional
border management program.
18. (C) The Commission told Boucher it would spend 17
million euros per year on rural development, agriculture,
land reform, and public finance management (linked with an
anti-corruption campaign) during the next programming period.
Two Commission programs were closed, however, due to
corruption.
19. (C) Lucas agreed with Boucher that the lack of
democratic reform continues to be a problem. EU
interlocutors stressed the need to make clear to the Tajiks
that the OSCE must be allowed to do its job, and said the
litmus test for democratic reform would be the state of
non-governmental organizations. Nonetheless, Lucas said that
Tajikistan seems to be moving in the right direction and
appears to maintain a lively civil society.
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* Missing Section 004 *
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