AMBASSADOR RAISES DEMOCRACY, RAMP IN FAREWELL CALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000709

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES DEMOCRACY, RAMP IN FAREWELL CALL
ON KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV

BISHKEK 00000709 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. In the Ambassador's farewell call on
President Bakiyev, she urged reconsideration of the U.S.
proposal to build a parking ramp at Manas Airport; noted the
need for continued democratic and economic reforms, including
the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Threshold Country
Program; and urged continued support for the American
University in Central Asia. Bakiyev chided the Ambassador
for not meeting his expectations regarding the U.S.
commitment in 2006 to provide $150 million in assistance, and
for alleged U.S. interference in internal affairs. He
claimed to have not understood that the proposed ramp would
not constitute an expansion of the base and said he would
task the Prime Minister to take another look at the project.
End Summary.

Bakiyev: Democratic Reform is Irreversible
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador paid a farewell call on a relaxed
President Bakiyev on July 3. After initial courtesies,
Bakiyev thanked the Ambassador for her work, noting that
bilateral relations were broadening in all areas. He noted
his pleasure with the recent assessment by visiting OSCE CiO
Finnish FM Stubb of Kyrgyzstan's progress in developing its
democracy and market economy. Bakiyev assured the Ambassador
that Kyrgyzstan would continue down the road to democracy.
He was proud that the new constitution's first articles
protect human rights. Kyrgyzstan, he claimed, was a leader
not just in Central Asia, but in all of the CIS, in its
democratic reforms. This is a transitional period, and the
public is still getting accustomed to democracy and an active
civil society, but these are irreversible steps. He said he
accepted the need to allow citizens to criticize the
government, but insisted that those criticisms should be
constructive. It's normal for organizations to criticize
those in power, he continued; the danger is when no criticism
is allowed.

But Political Stability Also Necessary
--------------


3. (C) The Ambassador noted that each country must find its
own path to democracy. However, it was essential that the
people be able to participate in the political process; when
people can participate, and freedom of speech is allowed,
there is long term stability. Picking up on the theme of
stability, Bakiyev noted that political stability was
essential for economic development. He commented that global
economic conditions were complex at the moment. The
Ambassador noted that we were working with the Kyrgyz on ways
to help provide food security, and were discussing options
with Washington. Bakiyev said he was aware of this work.

Proposed Parking Ramp at Manas
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador then raised the issue of the U.S.
proposal to invest $30 million to construct a new parking
ramp at Manas Airport. She assured the President that the
proposal did not constitute an expansion of the Air Base at
Manas, contrary to rumors in the press to that effect, and
showed him a map indicating that the proposed ramp would be
constructed on land currently leased by the Air Base.
Bakiyev said he had heard the ramp was to be built on
additional land, and on that basis had said no. In light of
this new information, he said the Kyrgyz needed to look at
the proposed site on the ground.


5. (C) On one hand, he said, this proposal looks very
positive. The prospect of a $30 million investment, with
$15-20 million going to Kyrgyz contractors, was attractive.

BISHKEK 00000709 002.2 OF 003


On the other hand, Bakiyev continued, the U.S. had not
fulfilled its earlier pledge to provide $150 million in
assistance following the 2006 base negotiations. Bakiyev did
not want to count money provided to NGO's. The Ambassador
responded that the U.S. has fulfilled all its commitments, as
agreed to in July 2006. She said that she had held many
discussions on this issue with then-Secretary of the Security
Council Mamytov. The U.S. fulfilled its commitment
completely, and at her last conversation, Mamytov had said he
was satisfied.


6. (C) The Ambassador noted that the U.S. needed a response
from the Kyrgyz by July 15 on the proposed ramp, due to
funding timelines. In addition, the U.S. was prepared to
provide additional counter-terrorism assistance to
Kyrgyzstan, and that Congress would consider in the fall a
request to fund the purchase of a radar for the airport.
Bakiyev said he would ask the Prime Minister to take the lead
in exploring the ramp issue and regretted the U.S. had not
raised this earlier. The Ambassador noted that, in fact,
discussion of the ramp began in February, and that, as always
we stand ready to answer any questions the Kyrgyz side might
have.

American University of Central Asia (AUCA)
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador thanked Bakiyev for Kyrgyz support
for AUCA, and noted that the university was prepared to work
cooperatively with the government to exchange the land
provided for a dormitory in the center of Bishkek for another
location. She also noted the importance of receiving Kyrgyz
attestation for the university. Bakiyev said all these
issues were for the Bishkek Mayor to decide, but said he
supported the system of education AUCA represents.

Sensitivity on Embassy role
--------------


8. (C) Commenting on the Ambassador's outline of the three
areas of our relations -- security, democracy and economic
reform -- Bakiyev said he did not want Embassies to interfere
in internal issues. This would not be accepted, he said.
Bakiyev said he was pleased to hear the Ambassador say that
each country must find its own path to democracy. Countries
must preserve their heritage, culture and traditions.
Kyrgyzstan could not simply take the U.S. or European model
and transplant it without regard to its history and customs.
The Ambassador said she had carefully listened to the
President's recent Constitution Day speech on the need to
promote rule of law and to combat corruption. This was
precisely the reason the U.S. was supporting Kyrgyzstan's
reforms under the Millennium Challenge Corporation's
Threshold Country Program. Bakiyev said he was focused on
taking steps to attract more foreign investment. The
Ambassador reviewed for Bakiyev recent conferences the
Embassy hosted on doing business with the U.S. and Air Base,
but noted that the business climate would determine the
extent of U.S. investment. In closing, the President wished
the Ambassador all the best.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) Bakiyev was relaxed and polite, if not warm, during
the hour-long meeting. At the end of the discussion on each
issue, the President turned to the Ambassador and said, "And
what else?" The meeting was notable in that Bakiyev did not
raise the recent fuel dumping incident or the 2006 shooting
incident at the Air Base. Even when he was picking a bone
with the U.S. (over alleged interference in domestic affairs
and non-fulfillment of the 2006 agreements),Bakiyev did not
belabor the point and his tone was pleasant.

BISHKEK 00000709 003.2 OF 003




10. (C) Immediately after the meeting, the Embassy hosted
its July 4 official reception at the Ambassador's residence.
Several officials informed us that the meeting had been
positive, and the President had issued positive instructions
to explore the proposed ramp. One close advisor to the
President, Valentin Bogatyrev, informed the Ambassador that
Bakiyev continues to harbor ill will towards the Embassy and
the Ambassador over perceived U.S. support for the
opposition, efforts to interfere in inter-ethnic politics in
the south, and the Ambassador's public criticism of
backsliding on democratic reforms under Bakiyev.


11. (C) Bogatyrev claimed that prior to the Ambassador's
meeting, Bakiyev had met with the Prime Minister and Kazakh
investor Mashkeyevich, both of whom had strongly urged the
President to respond favorably to the ramp proposal. In this
advisor's view, the President appeared to have taken this
advice, and is coming around to seeing the ramp as a
significant and positive investment. He furthermore claimed
that Bakiyev is committed to keeping Manas Air Base until
Presidential elections in 2010, and that his concern now is
that the U.S. may pull out of the base before that time.


12. (C) Our view is that the Kyrgyz are moving to yes on the
ramp, because they need the money, especially now. Whether
they will be able to move the process quickly enough to make
a decision by July 15 is another matter.


13. (C) During the meeting, Bakiyev appeared to have some
slight discomfort sitting, and as the meeting progressed he
shifted position several times. Otherwise, he appeared
healthy. He did not walk with a limp or in any other way
exhibit signs of complications from his hip surgery earlier
this year.
YOVANOVITCH