KYRGYZ PRIME MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR SEE EYE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001182 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ECON MARR KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRIME MINISTER AND AMBASSADOR SEE EYE TO EYE IN INTRODUCTORY MEETING BISHKEK 00001182 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador and Prime Minister Chudinov discussed bilateral issues during a warm first meeting on November 20. Chudinov expressed deep appreciation for USAID's assistance, in particular the planned provision of back-up generators to hospitals for the winter. Chudinov advised that future military training be conducted without the importation of weapons, as he could not guarantee against a repetition of the August weapons seizure. Chudinov assured the Ambassador that the threatened strike by Kyrgyz air traffic controllers against Coalition aircraft would be averted. He said he hoped economic and commercial cooperation would increase, but candidly acknowledged that Kyrgyzstan needed to undertake additional reforms to attract foreign investment. Chudinov said that resolving the December 2006 shooting case as well as the Yasynov traffic accident case would have a positive impact on the overall bilateral relationship, and "you have no idea how much easier it would make it for you to stay at Manas." End Summary. ¶2. (C) On November 20, Ambassador called on Prime Minister Igor Chudinov for a one-on-one first meeting. Chudinov was friendly and warm, welcoming the Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan and wishing her a productive tenure. Chudinov was both candid and well informed on a wide range of bilateral issues. Praise for USAID's Assistance -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador updated Chudinov on U.S. assistance efforts in the face of expected food and energy shortages this winter. Chudinov offered high praise for USAID, commenting on the "long track record" of cooperation. Chudinov expressed deep appreciation for USAID's assistance for the coming winter, in particular quality seeds and back-up generators for key hospitals. Chudinov said he had been in Osh the day before to inspect hospitals, and hospital administrators told him how grateful they were to be receiving generators, given the blackouts and inconsistent power supply. However, Chudinov added that the assistance had created some ill feelings; the administrator of the psychiatric hospital in Osh was upset that his hospital would not be receiving a generator. (Note: USAID worked with the Ministry of Health to set the priority list of facilities to receive back-up generators. End note.) "505" Agreement and Security Assistance -------------- ¶4. (C) Chudinov also expressed appreciation for the additional "valuable" security assistance that the U.S. would be able to provide now that Kyrgyzstan had communicated its acceptance of the "505" end-use and re-transfer agreement. (Note: On November 13, the Embassy received a Kyrgyz diplomatic note, in the Russian language, accepting the proposed agreement. End Note.) Chudinov said he was sorry that it had taken the Kyrgyz government such a long time to agree to the terms, but he was hopeful that having the agreement in place would facilitate additional cooperation. Training without Weapons -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador raised the unresolved issue of the weapons and equipment seized from a U.S. military training team in August. She noted that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) had recently returned a small number of pistols, but the bulk of the weapons and equipment remained in MVD custody. Chudinov apologized that that our team had been caught in a dispute between the MVD and the State Committee for National Security (GKNB),with the weapons becoming a "political football." Chudinov acknowledged that BISHKEK 00001182 002.2 OF 003 the partial return of weapons was "not good enough," and he added that the Prosecutor General was "not being helpful" in handling the case. Chudinov urged that any future training exercises be done without our trainers importing their weapons into Kyrgyzstan. He said regretfully but straightforwardly that he was not in a position to guarantee against a repetition of the August seizure. Therefore, he urged the U.S. side not to "expose" ourselves needlessly to possible future manipulation. (Note: MVD and GKNB report to the President, not the Prime Minister. End Note.) Averting a KAN Strike -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador raised concerns about the threat by Kyrgyz air traffic controllers to strike against Coalition aircraft starting December 1, and she asked for the Prime Minister's assistance to prevent disruption of Manas Air Base operations. Chudinov said that the dispute with Kyrgyzaeronavigatsia (KAN) was an internal Kyrgyz government problem for which the Kyrgyz side should take full responsibility. He acknowledged that his predecessor had promised additional (Kyrgyz government) payments to KAN, but no line item had been added to the year's budget. Given the current budget shortfall, he said, it would be difficult to pay money to KAN. Nevertheless, Chudinov said, the government would "come up with the money," and he assured the Ambassador that the threatened strike would be averted. He pledged that an appropriate line item would be inserted into next year's budget. DEA Offices at DCA -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador noted that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would like to station personnel in Kyrgyzstan, and the head of the Kyrgyz Drugs Control Agency (DCA),Gen. Nogoibayev, had offered to let them work out of DCA headquarters, but needs the permission of the Prime Minister to do so. Chudinov said he was aware of the issue and he had no objection to stationing DEA personnel with the DCA. Chudinov said all he needed was a letter from Nogoibayev formally making the request, and he would approve it. Ambassador's Bodyguards -------------- ¶8. (C) The Ambassador asked Chudinov for advice regarding her bodyguards. She told Chudinov that the MVD had stopped providing her with bodyguards, but the GKNB was prepared to provide that service. She handed Chudinov a letter formally requesting his advice as to which Kyrgyz agency could provide protection. Chudinov was well aware of the issue. Laughing ruefully, he said that, once again, the U.S. had been caught in a fight between Kyrgyz agencies and that the Ambassador was "very smart" to ask for written guidance on the subject. Chudinov suggested that the Presidential Security Service might provide personal protection, but he did not know if it had personnel available. He said he would consider the question and respond in writing. Improving the Investment Climate -------------- ¶9. (C) Chudinov expressed concern that the world economic crisis would hit Kyrgyzstan, with diminished remittances from Kyrgyz working abroad (mainly in Russia and Kazakhstan),as well as the return of workers who lose their jobs abroad. Chudinov noted that investors might be reluctant to take risks in the current environment, but he hoped that we could increase trade between our countries, with U.S. exporters looking to "expand their markets." Chudinov acknowledged BISHKEK 00001182 003.2 OF 003 that Kyrgyzstan had a "long way to go" to create an attractive investment climate. He lauded the new tax code, which he said simplified the tax structure. (Note: The new tax code has some problems which will need to be addressed before it can be implemented. For example, it introduces a sales tax with no mechanism for collecting it on top of the existing VAT. End note.) Chudinov said he wanted to use this difficult economic period to push hard for real reforms. ¶10. (C) Chudinov also expressed his thanks for the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program, which is promoting reforms and targeting corruption in the judiciary, procuracy, and law enforcement. The Ambassador commented that President Bakiyev publicly acknowledging corruption was also a positive initial step toward addressing the problem. Chudinov responded that acknowledging the problem was insufficient. He said that Kyrgyzstan suffered from "deep-rooted" corruption, and it will take "more than you know" to combat corruption successfully. Resolving the Shooting and Traffic Accident Cases -------------- -------------- ¶11. (C) While Chudinov was positive about bilateral cooperation on many issues, he told the Ambassador that resolving two outstanding issues would have a significant impact on improving relations. Chudinov referred to the December 2006 shooting of a Kyrgyz truck driver by a Manas Air Base airman, and to the 9-year-old traffic accident case, in which a Kyrgyz pedestrian, Yasynov, allegedly was seriously injured. Chudinov said that getting past these cases would have a positive impact on the overall bilateral relationship, and "you have no idea how much easier it would make it for you to stay at Manas." Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Chudinov was remarkably well informed about the status of all the issues raised by the Ambassador, and was sympathetic to working to find acceptable solutions. His candor was refreshing. That said, his authority does not extend to the security and law enforcement ministries, which report to the President, and thus some issues remain outside his purview. USAID's winter assistance efforts have clearly generated goodwill with Chudinov, who appeared willing to advocate for better relations with the U.S. GFOELLER