AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001208

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH
KYRGYZSTAN'S MINISTER OF DEFENSE

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Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary. Kyrgyz Minister of Defense Kalyev met with
the Ambassador on November 25 at MOD headquarters for her
introductory office call. This was the first opportunity for
them to meet face-to-face and discuss the current situation
as it relates to U.S./Kyrgyz military cooperation. The
meeting went very smoothly with the emphasis being placed on
continued engagements between CENTCOM and Kyrgyz armed
forces, particularly requesting additional assistance to
bolster security in southern Kyrgyzstan around Batken.
Discussion also touched on a threatened KAN air traffic
controller strike at Manas Airbase (Note: controllers
subsequently called off the strike. End Note.) and the U.S.
special forces weapons seizure last August. Kalyev noted
that each incident was unfortunate and he would approach the
appropriate senior government officials on the matters.

U.S.-Kyrgyz Bilateral Cooperation
--------------


2. (C) Defense Minister Kalyev thanked the Ambassador for a
broad range of projects funded through the Office of Military
Cooperation. Specifically, he highlighted the many recent
success stories and ongoing construction projects. Kalyev
expressed his gratitude for the Koi Tash military academy
saying that with construction nearly complete, he looks
forward to the official opening. The U.S. assistance in
building the training facilities for the MOD Scorpion Brigade
at Tok Mok was also a resounding success, as it benefits the
operational capabilities of those units. Kalyev also pointed
out the recent start of construction at Besh Kungay military
hospital and how it will further improve the quality of care
provided to all Kyrgyz armed forces. Turning to training,
Kalyev insisted that the U.S. IMET program is of great use to
the MOD as numerous officers have graduated and are being
very productive within the ministry providing useful
assistance and direction. He looks forward to continued
progress on the NCO professional development program CENTCOM
is pursuing. This will benefit the Kyrgyz as they work at
transitioning from a post-Soviet minded military to a more
westernized military able to work closely with U.N. and NATO
partners.


3. (C) Kalyev then went on to highlight that his decision to
redesignate the Peacekeeping unit from an
engineering/demining company to a motorized rifle company was
a good decision. He noted that the Kyrgyz already have a
trained unit to begin work with and will not have to rely on
outside assistance to build one from scratch. He did,
however, note that the Kyrgyz could not do it all alone. The
unit will still need U.S. assistance to train and equip the
unit before it could be deployed in support of
U.N.-sanctioned operations.

Armed Forces Reformation
--------------


4. (C) Minister Kalyev noted that the reformation of the
armed forces was underway. The Kyrgyz see their southern
border as being the focal point of potential insurgency and
the area in most need of fortifying. He related his concern
that this area was the focus of the terrorist insurgency in
1999-2000, when many Kyrgyz soldiers died fighting off a
group of armed extremists. The plan, as he pointed out, is
to reinforce the Batken area with a mobile, rapid reaction
special forces unit capable of quickly quelling any uprising
which would endanger the people or sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan.
He requested continued assistance from CENTCOM to conduct a
technical site survey of the area for barracks construction
and communications connectivity. Kalyev plans to eventually
deploy three battalions in the Batken area, then one in

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Jalalabad and finally, in 2011, one in Tash Kumer ) these
three areas being the routes most used by terrorists and
narco-traffickers. He went on to say that Kyrgyz
intelligence indicates that terrorists are moving back into
Kyrgyzstan and the deployment of armed forces in this region
may in itself be enough to secure the border. This would
continue to support the joint U.S./Kyrgyz counterterrorism
objectives.

Challenges to Continued Cooperation
--------------


5. (C) Ambassador Gfoeller noted that everything Kalyev said
was important and the U.S. will continue to be a good partner
and look for ways to provide future assistance. She noted
the recent resolution of the outstanding 505 agreement and
how that is an indication that, by working together, the
Kyrgyz armed forces will receive the help needed to continue
to improve as it moves forward with its reformation. She
then brought up one of the most pressing obstacles to
continued cooperation. Kyrgyzaeronavigatsia (KAN) is still
planning to strike against coalition aircraft beginning
December 1. A strike, she said, would create a huge problem
for coalition aircraft supporting combat operations over
Afghanistan. Although the Ambassador had already spoken to
other high-level Kyrgyz governmental leaders, she wanted
Kalyev to understand that this could be an impediment to
future cooperation should the strike happen. Kalyev,
understanding the situation to a degree, commented that KAN
has a legal right to strike, but said he failed to see a
satisfactory rationale for it. KAN, he feels, is trying to
circumvent to political system for its own end. He did not
say he would seek to intervene on behalf of the U.S. in this
instance. (Note: KAN air traffic controllers subsequently
called off the threatened strike, saying they would give the
Kyrgyz government until April 2009 to meet their demands.
End Note.)


6. (C) Ambassador Gfoeller then turned to the Defense Attache
(DATT) for any additional comments. The DATT again thanked
Kalyev for his continued support of U.S. military engagements
with the Kyrgyz armed forces. The DATT then went on to note
that the situation regarding the seizure of a U.S. special
forces training team's weapons in August will have broad
reaching ramifications should it not be satisfactorily
resolved. Kalyev, again stating his familiarity with the
incident, commented that the incompetence of U.S. and Kyrgyz
personnel caused the situation. He indicated that the U.S.
did not abide by Kyrgyz law when the team imported its
weapons and is now paying the price for incomplete
coordination. Kalyev said when he traveled to the U.S., he
saw many instances of incompetence, and seemed to be drawing
parallels here. While not overly concerned with the
potential cessation of counterterrorism training by U.S.
special forces units and his own soldiers, he did indicate
that he would meet with the Minister of the Internal Affairs
to look into the situation. He did not seem to be aware that
the Prosecutor General had dropped the criminal case in the
incident, but centered on, as he stated, the incompetence of
those involved.


LITZENBERGER