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